Main Street Iowa Selects Ames for Unique Opportunity

From Ames chamber of commerce

Ames, IA –Ames is one of 14 out of 49 Main Street Iowa communities selected for technical assistance for small businesses in the area of Window Displays and Visual Merchandising.

Anna Buhmeyer, a consultant hired by Main Street Iowa, will be giving a presentation on Window Displays & Visual Merchandising this Friday, July 19 at City Council Chambers. All downtown businesspeople are invited to attend this session. After the presentation, Buhmeyer will provide technical assistance at a few selected businesses in the district.  There will be no cost from the local program to utilize this service. 

Participating businesses will receive recommendations from the consultant for ongoing visual merchandising plan.   By equipping the design committee of the MSCD and local business staff with this knowledge the program will help increase the aesthetic appeal and also the interest and value in Ames’ Main Street.

Cari Hague, Executive Director of the Main Street Cultural District is excited about this opportunity for the Main Street District.  “Downtown Ames is a great asset to our community, and it has potential to be a complete shopping, dining and entertainment destination, “says Hague.   “Over the past couple of years, we have seen a refreshed interest in our local city façade grant program which has given new life to the outsides of many of our buildings.  Outside assessments, however, have shown a gap in what is offered in our boutiques and the first impression of the window displays.  We need to bridge the gap and really showcase the great treasures of Downtown Ames.”

Main Street Iowa received funding for this project to provide technical assistance for small businesses in the Main Street Iowa Communities in the area of Window Displays and Visual Merchandising.  The funding restrictions limited the number of communities and timeframe that the assistance be provided.  Ames was selected for this opportunity through an application process.  

The Main Street Cultural District was established on January 1, 2004. Its mission is to advance and promote downtown as the destination district in the heart of our community. To keep updated on MSCD happenings, become a fan of the Main Street Cultural District on Facebook, bookmarkwww.AmesDowntown.org, and contact our office at 233-3472. MSCD is an affiliate organization of the Ames Chamber of Commerce.