FROM RIPON MAIN STREET:
Ripon Main Street, Inc. and the City of Ripon have been working with Vandewalle & Associates over the last several months to create a Strategic Plan to guide future growth and development throughout Ripon's central business district. Input provided by representatives of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, Ripon Community Development Corp. (RCDC), City Council, Ripon College, and Ripon Main Street, Inc. helped the consultants get a better understanding of the problems and opportunities that confront our community, identifying common goals, and developing a feasible, comprehensive strategy for achieving the goals.
The document is now complete and is available for review on the Ripon MainStreet web site (a direct link is provided below). We are extremely excited for the downtown and the entire community regarding the vision and futuredevelopment potential represented in the Plan. The document includes broad economic strategies for how Ripon can leverage its assets to improve itshistoric center, as well as detailed recommendations for public improvements and redevelopment opportunities within the central business district. Although the Plan describes a very high level vision for the downtown andsurrounding area, we firmly believe the vision is achievable.
The City Plan Commission will hold a formal public hearing on the Plan and act on its adoption later in December, with the City Council expected to dolikewise in early January. Prior to that, we hope that community organizations will take action to endorse the Plan and collaborate in itsimplementation. Granted, the mechanics of the implementation structure will take some time and discussion to work through, we want to assure you that we are committed to doing this in a fair and open process.
