BREMEN COMMUNITY FORUM REPORT Bremen Hometown Collaboration Initiative
BREMEN COMMUNITY FORUM REPORT
Bremen Hometown Collaboration Initiative In the winter of 2016, the Town of Bremen was selected to be part of the Hometown Collaboration Initiative (HCI) program offered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for communities of 25, 000 people or less. As a part of the initiative, the Bremen team conducted a community forum at Bremen Public High School on July 27, 2017. About 90 community members participated. The purpose of the forum was to share survey results and capture ideas on how to build on the placemaking, economic and leadership assets of the community. During the forum, attendees participated in three rounds of discussions, where they were asked about placemaking ideas to make the community an attractive place to live in the future, strategies to retain and support existing business and grow new businesses and approaches to cultivating leadership and collaboration within the community. Our Team The Bremen HCI team consists of a diverse set of community members interested in fostering collaboration to make Bremen even better. The team has been meeting since March preparing to select a building block on which to focus. These include developing a new generation of leaders, growing small business and entrepreneurs and enhancing community design and public spaces. In addition to the forum, the HCI team surveyed local community members with over 900 responses. Stay Informed! Find the latest HCI information, meeting minutes, and reports at www. indianahci. org/bremen Hometown Collaboration Initiative Community Forum Bremen, Indiana 2017
Placemaking During the Placemaking round, community members were asked if they agreed with the top three placemaking priorities from the community survey, and if not, what they felt the community should prioritize. Each table picked a placemaking priority and then gave 2 -3 strategies to improve this priority in the community. Forum participants voted individually for their top two strategies. Strategies Reported Votes Downtown beautification Apartment improvements in downtown Public plaza downtown Incentives to renovate second floor apartments Downtown parking Downtown crosswalks 35 21 4 4 3 2 1 Town Pride-Care of Property Incentives for homeowners to improve their yards Renovating empty businesses 33 31 2 Streetscapes and Wayfinding Gateway improvements Evergreens by Bremen Casting Connectivity with sidewalks Underground power lines Signage Street - entrance improvements 21 13 4 2 1 1 0 Downtown Town Pride-Care of Property Streetscapes/Wayfinding Parks, Trails and Public Spaces Other Parks, Trails and Public Spaces Bike trails connect to other places Provide Wi-Fi in public spaces Common gathering spaces/public space Involve adults/kids in cleaning park 16 13 2 1 0 Other Incentives for new businesses Retail pop-up opportunities Recruit comp. business Family events 13 7 3 3 0 Local Foods Local access to food-restaurants Taking farmer’s market further 12 11 1 Local Foods Hometown Collaboration Initiative Community Forum Bremen, Indiana 2017
Economy During the Economy round, community members were asked: • How can we support existing businesses in our community? • What can we do to help people who want to start a business in our community? As a table, participants decided and reported on the top 2 -3 economy-related strategies from their discussion. Participants then voted individually on their top two strategies. Top Economic Development Strategies Campaign for Buy Local Incentives for new businesses Mentorship training Promote Bremen as a place to grow your family Add Industrial property Group education for businesses Shortage of housing Marketing campaign for businesses Have businesses do cross-promotion Promote uniqueness Reach out to youth (shadowing) Variety in Bremen People aware of what businesses have to offer Target businesses new to Bremen Use Facebook as a resource 38 24 18 9 8 8 7 7 6 5 3 2 0 0 0 Other responses from the forum • • • Develop, grow and retain workforce Survey local business needs Target businesses for youth workers Collaboration among businesses Chamber of Commerce shifts focus to businesses surviving • • Capitalize on school sport conference Promote local businesses through town website Business networking opportunities Website dedicated to business of the community Hometown Collaboration Initiative Community Forum Bremen, Indiana 2017
Leadership During the Leadership round, community members brainstormed strategies for each of the top four leadership items survey respondents felt the community should improve. The top 4 -5 strategies were chosen by the tables and reported out during the forum. Provide Leadership skills training to youth Build skills of emerging leaders to take on new roles • Provide apprenticeship, internship, mentor, and volunteer opportunities • Provide diverse mentors/mentorships • Involve class officers in town government • Include youth members on local boards • Create “Come Back to Bremen” campaign targeting college graduates • Intentional outreach, personal and one-on-one • Consider ways to avoid leadership/volunteer burnout • Hold workshops and trainings advertising them on social media Form leadership networks and opportunities for leaders to interact Expand awareness and appreciation of diversity in our community • Hold 7 am or lunch meetings for local business owners with rotating hosts at local businesses • Involve ministerial association to sponsor businesses • Annual leadership forum • Reinvigorate civic organizations and Chamber of Commerce • Youth representation on community boards and town council • Advertise and expand English as a Second Language program • Plan ethnic festivals • Provide language education/opportunities for community • Create a public calendar Hometown Collaboration Initiative Community Forum Bremen, Indiana 2017
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