Lombard downtown business group denied extra funding

Lombard trustees have denied a request for additional funding from Lombard Town Centre for the second consecutive year.

"While we do want to support LTC and be a partner, we need them to come up with a plan to be more self-sustaining in the future," Trustee Bill Johnston said. "The concept of LTC being more self-reliant has been discussed for many years, but it has never come to fruition."

The organization, which promotes downtown businesses, requested $60,000 from the village this year to cover the cost of a strategic plan consultant and a paid intern. Trustees agreed, however, to keep village funding for the group at $55,000, which was the amount it was awarded last year and in 2014. Last year, trustees denied the group's request for an additional $12,000 on top of the $55,000, to pay for a new part-time employee.

Lombard Town Centre Executive Director Sarah Richardt said the board's denial of additional funding means the group will have to remain "mindful of our resources" and keep working to recruit more volunteers. Regardless, she said, she is happy for the help the group is receiving.

"We are very fortunate as Lombard Town Centre that we have a village board that supports us," she said. "That is not the case with many Main Street organizations."

The group has received funding every year since it was established in 2005. The money comes from a downtown tax increment financing district, which is scheduled to expire in 2023 but could run out sooner.

In exchange for village funding, the group is required to provide an annual audit of its finances and present quarterly reports to the village board.

Richardt said the group is still moving forward with the creation of its first strategic plan with money from its reserves. The plan will lay out how the organization can create new revenue and become sustainable in the next three to five years.

A consultant already has been hired and the work is expected to be complete in June.

One new initiative the organization is considering to help boost revenue is a mobile application that people could use to buy gift cards and learn about daily specials and events in the downtown area, Richardt said.

Strategic plan surveys also will be sent out to businesses and residents soon, to get input on where Lombard Town Centre should go in the future.

"This year is our planning year and much of our resources are going toward planning for the future," Richardt said. "We're going to try to add more events, but we really want to have a solid foundation moving forward to keep us sustainable for the long-term."