By: Jeanie Mayer
Innovating Partnerships to Advance Downtown Development
It takes many years and a whole lot of people working toward a common goal to transform an historic downtown into a thriving business district where the community can gather, celebrate and enjoy all that life in a small town has to offer.
It takes the commitment of elected officials, countless committee hours, and dedicated groups of people who share a vision for what their hometown should embody.
This article highlights the work of a few of those groups, though many decades of work and planning have gone into preparing the way for what is now the downtown area of Hampshire.
The Business Development Commission
The Business Development Commission (BDC) got its start in 2017 under then Village President Jeff Magnussen. Former Trustee Mike Armato advocated for an advisory group that would work to ‘get smarter’ on developing business in the Village of Hampshire and recommend plans of action for the Village Board to consider.
Ryan Krajecki, who served as Trustee from 2017 to 2021, was named chair of the committee, and still leads it today. He said the original goals were to research programs that would benefit the Village, improve the overall look of the downtown, attract investment, and bring the community back to the downtown area for events and gatherings.
“We wanted to achieve what I think America is about: entrepreneurs and local people creating value and keeping businesses in Hampshire.”
The BDC is comprised of business owners, professionals and residents who have a vested interest in seeing the village grow and prosper. Together they studied the Main Street Program, which was a series of 6-hour learning modules that each member studied and reported on; and the EPA Smart Growth Initiative, and other programs to learn everything they could about putting development plans into action.
“The work that everyone has done is extraordinary. It has been a team effort,” Ryan said.
Ryan highlighted the work of one of the founding members of the BDC, Dave Pizzolato, who led the work the group did with the EPA Smart Growth Initiative.
“Dave has been a visionary for the BDC and a primary contributor for the group. In many ways, Dave is the soul of the committee and a huge lover of the town,” Ryan said.
Ryan also highlighted the work of former BDC member, Susie Kopacz, who always went above and beyond in her work for the BDC.
“Susie was our Main Street leader. She traveled to Dixon to learn how they accomplished their Main Street initiatives, and then returned to report back,” Ryan said.
The Beautification Committee
With the BDC working on growth initiatives, the group recognized the need for a sub-committee to do some of the legwork. Enter the Beautification Committee (BC).
Tasked with finding ways to make the downtown more aesthetically pleasing, the BC also was tasked with researching and drafting a façade improvement grant process in which businesses owners who invested in exterior improvements of their buildings could receive reimbursement funds to help cover the costs.
The village adopted the plan and the first grants were released in 2019. To date, 14 businesses have taken advantage of the program; revitalizing their buildings and improving the overall look of the village.
“We wanted people to do big things and we worked hard to make the program generous,” Ryan said.
BC chairman, Bill Swalwell, does double duty as a member of the BDC. He is the first to work with business owners and helps to guide them through the façade grant application and approval process.
Bill works as a residential insurance claims handler which provides him with extensive experience that translates well toward the restoration of the exterior of commercial buildings. Prior to the BDC, Bill served the village as a trustee from 2001 to 2004 and he served on the village’s plan commission from 2004 to 2010.
“I love the interaction with the commission members and the applicants. I like walking (through) the projects to find out what (the owner’s) plans are and I ask about the details. I review the criteria for the façade grant with them and show them how their project can fit within the parameters,” Bill said.
Downtown Streetscape and Festival Block
Both the BC and the BDC worked with the village’s design team to help shape the vision for the downtown streetscape improvements that were then finalized by the village board and completed in 2021.
The installation of the village clock, donated by the Swalwell family in the early 2000’s, serves as the centerpiece of the work that was done to improve the streetscape, and the culmination of many decades of planning and effort by many residents and boards.
“Village President Mike Reid and the village board have been very supportive of the downtown beautification program and the façade program.” Ryan said.
About the Business Development Commission
Current Members: Ryan Krajecki, Chair; David Pizzolato; Bill Swalwell; Aaron Kelly; Karen Trzaska; Liz Martin; Meagan Rago
Past Members: Suzie Kopacz, Ian Lamp, Mike Armato, Eileen Fleury
Beautification Committee Members: Bill Swalwell, Chair; Michelle Bunkowske; Lynn O’Shea; Christina Boelter; Jeanie Mayer
Past Member: Eileen Fleury