Organizers behind the recent unveiling of the Main ARTery project say the project’s kickoff was a success.
“We’re really, really happy with the response that night and the response since then,” said Cathy Lofgren, an event organizer, Main Street business owner and member of the Main Street Revitalization Committee (MSRC). “The night itself went really good. We were really happy with the turnout and we’ve had no negative responses. It goes to show that people are looking for something to do in the evening.”
It was the first event organized by the MSRC since its inception last year. The group, consisting of business owners and community leaders, has announced its intention to fix areas of concern with Flin Flon’s Main Street area.
After holding its first event, the logical next question is what step the MSRC will take next.
A concrete answer isn’t yet known. Lofgren said residents have told her they would prefer to include more art and entertainment in the area, specifically mentioning the atmosphere of entertainment that went along with the Main ARTery opening.
“They want more. They want more things. They loved the buskers, the music downtown. They get to enjoy the atmosphere, and they’re like, ‘Can we have this more often?’” she said.
“I get that sense too, that people want to have a place to come with something going on in the evening. That’s going to be our focus.”
The MSRC has bigger goals than just helping make Main Street more entertaining. The group hopes to make the area more business friendly, proposing a refurbishment of storefronts on Flin Flon’s main drag and aiming to increase the number of businesses, possibly including new projects involving empty or unoccupied lots.
“We’re really going to work on that. We have lots of empty lots. We have lots of buildings that could use artwork and some sprucing up. We’re just talking right now. Where do we put our attention? It’s always going to be positive and something for the public, more reasons to come downtown,” Lofgren said.
“It’s not just the Main Street revitalization, but it’s also the stores, the businesses. We have to get together too, to do some promotions and stuff, to give a reason for people to come downtown. Lots of good ideas. Lots of stuff. We want to know all that. It seems like people want more.”
Discussions on the group’s next steps have already taken place.
“By no means are we done. We just had a meeting (June 26) and threw a whole bunch of ideas out. Everybody’s kind of got their little job they’re going to investigate and we come back. We definitely want to keep the momentum going,” she said, adding that everything seems positive about the initiative.
“It was good and Main Street looks great. It goes to show it doesn’t have to be huge to make a big change. We’re just really happy that people are coming downtown and enjoying this.”
