July 2012

Letter From the Executive Director

Its an exciting time for Richmond Main Street. As we embark on implementing the newly approved Downtown Richmond Property Based Business Improvement District (PBID), we are thrilled to have accomplished something some thought was virtually impossible to do engage a group of property and business owners to support the revitalization efforts of Downtown. Not only are these stakeholders willing to get involved, they understand the importance of protecting their investments and are willing to financially support the effort. Neighboring cities (Berkeley and Oakland, for example) have used similar revitalization mechanisms to transform their districts into thriving commercial centers. The Downtown Richmond PBID will build on the momentum and investments already made in Downtown such as the new, beautiful streetscape on Macdonald Avenue and plaza on Nevin Avenue implemented by the former Redevelopment Agency and the newly renovated East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, which has brought a state of the art performing arts institution to Downtown. Ultimately, the PBID will create lasting results, making Downtown more economically viable, attractive, and safe. Thus far this year, RMSI has experienced great success with our signature activities: promoting the arts and Downtown with Music on the Main and Art In Windows; developing job skills through the 5th Annual Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program; and, with the support of West County HEAL, increasing access to healthy foods and fitness opportunities with Healthy Village Farm Stand and free, bi-weekly Zumba classes. Additionally, we accomplished a long-standing goal of establishing a full-scale, weekly certified Farmers Market downtown. Through these events and many others, we have attracted more people downtown than ever before and we only expect this trend to continue. As the executive director for Richmond Main Street I have the distinct pleasure to work with a diverse group of stakeholders who support our work, including residents, business owners, city government officials, and communitybased organizations. I am delighted to work with a group of committed, hard-working staff, board members, and volunteers who have helped RMSI attain remarkable achievements, such as our Neighborhood Ambassador Program, which has been recognized locally and nationally for the remarkable positive difference it has made in keeping Downtown clean and safe. Through our partnership with Rubicon Programs weve been able to train 13 transitional workers who last year resolved 1,165 of the 1,342 (86%) issues they identified on their patrols. Were happy to report that were also providing a pathway to employment. One of our ambassadors was recently hired by Chevron as a janitor and one other is completing final testing for a custodial position with the West Contra Costa School District. Richmond Main Street is growing by leaps and bounds. We have a bright future ahead and expect to continue to be the catalyst for positive change downtown. We invite everyone to join our efforts building on this momentum as we work to implement a PBID that will provide a public/private partnership to revitalize downtown.

2011 Annual Report

RICHMOND MAIN STREET INTIATIVE, INC.

Thank you to our sponsors and community partners. Your support makes our work possible!
City of Richmond, LISC, Chevron Corporation, Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Mechanics Bank, Wells Fargo, Sims Metal, Richmond Community Foundation, State Farm, DP Security, Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau, Zoes Cookies, Richmond Sanitary Service, Kiwanis Club of Richmond, Earth Blend Mulch, The Redwood Clinic, GenX Clothing, Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union, Martin Realty, Joannes Boutique, M.A. Hays Co, Inc., On the Move Staffing Services, Richmond Public Library Foundation, Contra Costa College , CHDC, Snazz Enterprises

Our Healthy Village Farm Stand events provided fresh produce and nutrition information to hundreds of residents in 2011. (Photo credit: RMSI)

Inside this Report: 2011 Highlights RMSI Mission Board of Directors 2011 Workplan 2-3 2 3 4

2011 Highlights
worked together to develop business plans. Upon completing the training program, the youths earned real-world work experienceand some incomeat local businesses. Healthy Village Farm Stand In partnership with the West County HEAL Collaborative, Richmond Main Street sponsored its second year of the Healthy Village Farm Stand, an event all about health and wellness in Downtown Richmond. Hundreds of residents and workers came downtown on the 1st Friday of the month, June-August, to enjoy free, farm-fresh produce courtesy of EcoVillage Farm, flower salad samples and healing herb seedlings from CURME, information about services and resources offered through RecycleMore, Weigh of Life, First 5, GRIP, and others, as well as pony rides and educational arts and crafts activities for kids. maintenance efforts of the district. More than 1,000 BIDs have been formed throughout the country and many of them provide services like street cleaning, beautification, and marketing support. To help lead the feasibility study and implementation, RMSI selected a consultant team from Civitas in early August. The PBID has received wide support from community stakeholders made up of property owners, business owners and residents and passed with 74.3% of the weighted vote from local property owners and approved by the City of Richmond City Council. Smart and Grow Smart In partnership with the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, RMSI provided over 90 hours of training and technical assistance to 12 entrepreneurs and established businesses through Start & Grow Smart, an innovative program focused on providing small business assistance through business modeling and individualized one-on-one consulting sessions. Small businesses are an integral part of creating a sustainable downtown district and the demand for this program was great. Classes were free for all participants and made possible by generous support from Wells Fargo, Chevron, and Mechanics Bank. Business Openings and Re-openings 2011 witnessed a rapid increase of new businesses in Downtown, including Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA), the Alliance of Californians for

Neighborhood Ambassadors, Annetreece and Lance help resolve issues and present a friendly face to visitors of the district.

Neighborhood Ambassador Program (NAP) The NAP continued to grow in 2011. In May 2011, we strengthened NAP by partnering with Rubicon Programs, which helped to expand the number of ambassadors and increase their presence on the corridor, as well as provide stipends for the ambassadors and to offer additional training and support services to ambassadors. The RMSI ambassador program received local and national recognition in early 2012: Amanda Elliott delivered a presentation about the program at the National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore, the City of Richmond recognized the program and its participants for outstanding service to the downtown district, and the program was selected as a second round finalist for the MetLife Community Police Partnership award.

Neighborhood Ambassadors walk through Historic Downtown on a daily basis to help keep the area clean and safe by identifying and resolving blight issues such as graffiti and litter. They also help visitors find their way around the neighborhood. In 2011, nine ambassadors performed 1000 hours of service and resolved 86% of the issues they identified. Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program (SYEP) In 2011, RMSI graduated its 4th SYEP class. This year, nine Richmond youths participated in a two-week work readiness and entrepreneurship training course, where they learned professionalism, active listening, and communication skills. They met with business professionals and Page 2 of 4

Downtown residents pick up a bag of free produce courtesy of EcoVillage and HEAL at Healthy Village Farm Stand.

Property-based Business Improvement District (PBID) Early in 2011, RMSI began exploring the creation of a PBID in Downtown Richmond. A PBID is a public-private partnership where property owners contribute to the improvement and

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Our Mission: The Richmond Main Street Initiative is a communitybased nonprofit corporation dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Richmond as a pedestrian-friendly urban village, offering products, services, arts and entertainment that reflect the communitys rich and diverse heritage.

Highlights (continued from p. 2)

Community Empowerment (ACCE), Richmond Spokes Bike Lounge, West County First 5, Old School Barbershop, and the Family Market. In October, the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts celebrated the renovation of their permanent facility with a month of special performances. Visit www. richmondmainstreet.org for a complete directory of downtown businesses. Music on the Main Summer Concerts Downtown celebrated 10 years of Music on the Main in 2011. Over 800 residents, community members, and music lovers gathered in Downtown Richmond on the 4th Wednesday of June, July, and August to enjoy an evening of great performances by local musicians and dancers including Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, the Reed Fromer Band, the Iron Triangle Urban Ballet, Jesse James, Ray McCoy, Hula Ohana Hokulani, the College Prep Dancers, Richmond Bloco Steel band, and LAVAand a wide range of goods, services, and activities for guests of all ages. Adults and children alike flocked to the Healthy Village zone for free, farm-fresh produce and refreshing natural lemonade samples. Families rejoiced in the musically-themed arts & crafts activities, face painting, and dancing. Audience members also enjoyed the outdoor bazaar atmosphere offered by the vendor and information booths at each concert, which provided a unique shopping experience, supported local entrepreneurs, and offered access to a variety of community resources. artisansall in the heart of downtown. Richmond Main Street honored downtown champions Janet Johnson, Bennie Singleton, Joanne King, Betty Reid Soskin, and Fred D. Jackson for their commitment to improving downtown. 2011 Holiday Festival The 2011 Holiday Festival record-breaking attendance: over Passing out gifts and creatthe course of the ing happy memories for Iron day nearly 1000 Triangle youth at the annual Holiday Festival. (Photo credit: residents visited RMSI) the festival located at the Nevin Community Center to enjoy live seasonal music performed by the Richmond Jazz Collective and St. Marks Mariachi Band, engaging arts and crafts activities, healthy snacks, a puppet show by Nick Barone and jokes by Buki the Clown, and visits with Santa. Every child left with a present, gift bag filled with goodies, and memories that are sure to last. The 2nd annual Holiday Bazaar turned the Market Square Mall into a onestop shopping destination and supported local businesses and entrepreneurs.
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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cynthia Haden, Chair Arnie Kasendorf, Past Chair Xavier Abrams, Vice Chair Maria Alegria, Secretary Jerrold Hatchett Charlene Smith Gary Bell Mary Lavergne Janet L. Johnson, Ex-Officio James Goins, Advisory Joanne King, Advisory Amanda Elliott, Executive Director OUR STAFF Amanda Elliott, Executive Director Alicia Gallo, Outreach & Neighborhood Ambassador Coordinator Johnasies McGraw, Development Consultant Amelia Segi, Adminstrative Assistant

Financial Report
Fiscal Year 2011 Expenses Program General and Administration Development 56% 14% 30% 100% $ 138,040 $ 34,510 $ 73,950 $ 246,500

Fiscal Year 2011 Income Foundation 15% $ 45,000 Spirit & Soul Festival and Fundraiser Individual 3% $ 9,860 On Saturday, September 17, over 150 Corporate 20% $ 59,000 residents and community members gathered in the beautiful Community Public 58% $ 175,000 Green Space Park for an afternoon of 4% $ 12,000 music, wine, and community togetherness. Other This years Spirit & Soul Festival featured 100% $ 301,360
spectacular performances by LaChic!, Derrick Hall, Sekhou Senegal, and Ray Obiedo, delicious healthy soul food by the Natural Healing Tree, delectable wines, and an open air market featuring local

I appreciate the efforts of Richmond Main Street for their clear vision, extraordinary energy, and effective advocacy of this downtown district and the City of Richmond. -- Alvin Herring, former CCISCO employee
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2011 Annual Report

RICHMOND MAINSTREET INITIATIVE, INC. 1000 Macdonald Ave, Suite C Richmond, CA 94801 Phone: 510.236.4049 Fax: 510.236.4052 Email: [email protected]

www.richmondmainstreet.org

RMSI 2011 Work Plan

Economic Restructuring Committee: Chair - Charlene Smith Raise $150,000 Conduct downtown survey and outreach to determine support for implementation of an Arts and Culture District. Confer with local leaders to gain an understanding of how they envision downtown Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program Work with City Economic Development Commission to explore and implement a Business Improvement District (BID) Design Committee: Chair Anyka Barber Continue Art In Windows campaign to enliven downtown and enhance vacant storefronts Work on banner campaign for downtown Iron Triangle Legacy Project

Promotion Committee: Chair Jerrold Hatchett Continue to update and upgrade website; Create blog Produce commercial for Web and radio/TV broadcast Expand online presence Facebook, Flickr, WordPress.com (www. richmondmainstreet.org), Twitter 3 Summer Concert Series - Music on the Main Annual Fundraiser: Spirit & Soul Festival Healthy Village Farm Stand Holiday Festival and Holiday Bazaar Clean & Safe Committee: Chair Cindy Haden Community Garden Plantings and Clean Ups Neighborhood Ambassador Program Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) visits to downtown businesses to tackle blight and address safety concerns Recycling Campaign

Local artists display their artwork in a vacant storefront on Macdonald Avenue as part of the Art In Windows program. (Photo credit: RMSI)

Highlights

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Art In Windows We proudly collaborated with downtown property owners Paradigm Contractors and Nasser Real Estate, local artists, and the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission to bring two Art In Windows exhibitions to Downtown. These multidisciplinary public art projects highlighted the works of local artists Virginia Jourdan, Malik Seneferu, Ron C. Smith, and Slimm Buick, whose art transformed vacant storefronts into 24hour galleries.