Lombard approves funding for downtown organization
The Lombard Town Centre organization is receiving significant praise - and $55,000 in financing - from the village board.
Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick said the group, which promotes the village's downtown businesses, had "a banner year" and succeeded possibly in saving the "two most important buildings" in the downtown - a bank at 1 S. Park Ave. and hotel at 101 W. St. Charles Road.
"We are delighted this year to again offer funding to the downtown center," she said. "They're very close to full occupancy. This is a dream for Lombard residents ... we've gone from absolute vacancy to a thriving business district. It's a labor of love, it's ongoing work and this particular group has outdone themselves this year."
However, the board agreed to keep funding for the nonprofit at the same level it was at last year - $55,000 - despite a request by the group for an extra $12,000 to hire a new part-time employee.
The village's economic and community development committee denied the request for the additional money last month.
"I actually had to break the tie and suggest they not ask for that at the present time," said Fitzpatrick, who also serves as chairwoman of the committee. "I just felt like they needed to come to us with some money in hand and show that they were raising money a little faster if they were going to fund yet a second employee."
Lombard Town Centre has received funding annually from the village since it was established in 2005. But this is the first year the group broke even or made a profit on every event it hosted.
Officials said the group was running at a $20,000-a-year deficit four years ago. In the last year, the group was able to double the amount of money it has in reserves, to $14,000.
Of the $55,000 the group will receive from the village next year, $42,500 will go to Executive Director Sarah Richardt's part-time salary. The remaining funds will cover rent and office expenses.
Trustee Peter Breen said the downtown had double-digit vacancies, and Lombard Town Centre has been a "real partner in making sure those vacancies go away."
Richardt said there are now only four vacancies and development of two of them - the bank and hotel buildings - is pending.
Town centre highlights from the past year include a significant increase in Facebook likes, 1,600 volunteer hours donated to the organization and several successful events, including outdoor screenings of sporting events and the free Spooktacular event around Halloween.
"We've seen a huge increase in our financial support and especially our business support this year," Richardt added, noting that the number of downtown businesses that are members of Lombard Town Centre has increased from 16 last year to 41 in 2014.
New businesses have opened in the past year as well, including The Hair Experts, DRYtini, Penelope Fine Jewelry and the newest addition, ClaSha Boutique, which moved from Elmhurst to a space at 19 W. St. Charles Road.
Village President Keith Giagnorio said he is excited to hear about all the work Lombard Town Centre is doing and encouraged residents to help out when they can.
"As Lombardians, not only do we have to go and utilize our downtown, but encourage our friends from Glen Ellyn, Addison, if you have folks from out of town, bring them down there. Go to one of the restaurants, one of the shops," he said.
Next year, Lombard Town Centre hopes to increase volunteer involvement, find new sponsorships and improve marketing efforts, among other goals. Richardt said the group plans to host a barbecue and blues festival near the end of summer. Richardt said contracts still need to be signed.
The festival, she said, is relocating from a nearby community, although she wouldn't say which one. In the other community it brought in about $40,000 in one day.