Mount Vernon Downtown Association

THE MISSION OF THE MOUNT VERNON DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION IS TO CULTIVATE A VIBRANT AND PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN WHILE HONORING ITS HISTORIC CHARACTER, TO PRESERVE AND GROW THE PLACE WHERE COMMUNITY CONNECTION HAPPENS. OUR VISION IS OF A THRIVING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MOUNT VERNON, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME IN THE CLEAN, SAFE, AND APPEALING HEART OF COMMERCE AND CULTURE; A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER WITH PRIDE.

IN 2021, DOWNTOWN MOUNT VERNON BUSINESSES CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOR, AS WELL AS THE IMPACTS ON STAFFING AND OPERATIONS. OUR MVDA OPERATIONS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED PANDEMIC RELIEF SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO OVER 200 BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DISTRICT. WE CONTINUED TO OFFER TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES TO INITIATE OR EXPAND E-COMMERCE, CONTINUED TO KEEP OUR BUSINESSES INFORMED OF REGIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL RELIEF PROGRAMS, AND HELP IN COMPLETING GRANT AND LOAN APPLICATIONS. WE COORDINATED MULTIPLE SHOP LOCAL CAMPAIGNS, CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED A SPRING/SUMMER GLOSSY SHOPPING GUIDE, ALONG WITH A SECOND ANNUAL GLOSSY HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE AND CATALOG (ALSO PROVIDED DIGITALLY), AND CONTINUED TO COORDINATE EVENTS TO GENERATE FOOT TRAFFIC TO SUPPORT OUR RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS, SUCH AS THE HOLIDAYTREE STROLL DOWNTOWN AND A SPRING WINDOW CONTEST. WE MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO CONTINUE EVENTS WE COULD RE-ENGINEER AS TO BE SAFE IN LIGHT OF THE CONTINUED PANDEMIC. WE PARTNERED TO RELOCATE AND EXPAND THE VALLEY MADE MARKETS TO THE RIVERWALK PLAZA, ADDING A SAFE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND GENERATING INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE DISTRICT ON SUNDAYS, WHICH ARE HISTORICALLY SLOWER IN THE DISTRICT. WE ALSO CREATED A TRI-FOLD GLOSSY DOWNTOWN DINING GUIDE, WHICH WAS DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY, THROUGH AN ARRANGEMENT WITH CERTIFIED FOLDER DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. ALTHOUGH WE STILL COULD NOT FIELD SOME OF OUR USUAL COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS, SUCH AS THE TULIP FESTIVAL STREET FAIR OR SUMMER SIPS, WE DID CONTINUE OPERATIONS AT OUR MICRO-ENTERPRISE FACILITATOR, THE POP-UP MV. THE POP-UP MV IS A SMALL BUSINESS AND RETAIL INCUBATOR PROGRAM INTENDED TO FOSTER NEW BUSINESSES AND HELP THEM GET TO THE POINT OF SECURING LONGER TERM LEASES IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR, WE ENTERED INTO A LEASE AND BEGAN START-UP ACTIVITIES TOWARD AN ADDITIONAL MICRO-ENTERPRISE INCUBATOR, THE LIDO COLLECTIVE, WHICH IS A PHYSICAL SPACE AND PROGRAM AIMED AT ASSISTING LOCAL CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS (ARTISTS AND MAKERS) BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A YEAR-ROUND, MORE PANDEMIC RESILIENT OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR WARES. THE LIDO COLLECTIVE WILL FURTHER SUPPORT OUR MISSION OF CULTIVATING A VIBRANT AND PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN BY RECHARACTERIZING A PRIME STREET-LEVEL SPACE AT A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION FROM A MOSTLY SHUTTERED PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACE TO AN OPEN, ATTRACTIVE, AND ENGAGING RETAIL EXPERIENCE. IT WILL ALSO SUPPORT OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT BY ADDING INTEREST AND FOOT TRAFFIC. IN 2022, AS THIS SPACE OPENED AND IS OPERATING, THIS PROGRAM IS ILLUSTRATING ITS INTENDED EFFECT. AS IN 2020, ALL MARKETING, PROGRAMMATIC, TECHNICAL, AND PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO OUR MEMBERS WAS PROVIDED GRATIS, UTILIZING OUR OWN COVID-RELIEF FUNDS, RESERVES, AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.