Speedway Promoters Club Seeks CDC Help(posted Oct 18) The Speedway Promoters Club made its first appearance under its new name at the Oct 17 Speedway Community Development Corporation meeting where it requested to use the CDC as a temporary fiscal agent for future SPC events. The Speedway Promoters Club (SPC) was the named that got shuffled behind the Speedway Parade Committee in the midst of the fast pace required to organize the September parade. The group decided after the parade to reclaim the name officially in order to do more events other than a parade to promote the assets of the Speedway community. SPC board member Susan Luebbert told the CDC they preferred to keep its independent status because the SPC intends to seek tax exempt status. The SPC felt if it was tied to a quasi government entity it could caught into a political shuffle. "The parade is about having fun," she said. Luebbert announced at the meeting that Amy Carroll serves now as the president / facilitator of the SPC and that other officers were elected at their Oct 14 meeting. The CDC served as the fiscal agent for the parade since the committee had no time to develop a non-profit tax exempt status before the parade. CDC member Tom Fansler requested that if the club is going to use the CDC as a fiscal agent that a budget and a plan must be submitted for accountability purposes. Don Katterhenry of the Old Speedway City Neighborhood Association also requested the possibility of using the CDC as a fiscal agent for the potential of buying historic signs. Katterhenry said the OSCNA has developed a historical walking tour program that is yet to be implemented. Fansler agreed the CDC needs to develop guidelines and an application to assure accountability from outside organizations. CDC member Jason Delisle submitted an idea to develop a facade grant program for Main Street that could help with the redevelopment efforts. Delisle said the facade grant program of Charlotte, North Carolina would be a good example to follow. The CDC's objective is to be able to offer business owners a Main Street facade improvements through grants. Luebbert also suggested the CDC look at the National Main Street Program as a means to protect the historic value of Main Street. Delisle agreed that signs telling a story about the history of Main Street businesses would be nice. The CDC also discussed other potential events to improve Speedway by offering a fire hydrant painting contest, cross-walk enhancements and street signs. Fansler explained the cross walk enhancement is a visual thing. It is more than two white lines on the road. He presented Terre Haute's cross walk enhancement program as something to consider modeling. CDC member Margaret Zore would like the CDC to involve the youth in some of the enhancement activities like sign design or fire hydrant painting. The next meeting is November 7 at 5:45 pm, town hall. |