Canandigua New York NYCOM 2009

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Position opening

Dear Friend of Downtown Schenectady:

The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) is now searching for its next Executive Director. This letter is part of that search. Attached is a job description for the Executive Director position. If you are aware of any person(s) who might be an appropriate candidate for the Executive Director position would you please share the following information with them.

If possible, we would like to find a candidate who has the qualifications to meet all of the particulars of the job description. However, there are certain core competencies that are essential for the Executive Director. These are:

A self-directed individual, who can work with an active board of directors to refine and achieve the vision and mission of the DSIC.
Managerial experience, preferably in not-for-profit operations.
Leadership, strategic planning, fiscal operations, marketing, and fundraising and development skills are required.
Be able to motivate and work with board members, staff, strategic partners, volunteers and a diverse group of stakeholders to implement the organizations long-term and short-term goals.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Possess a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited university, preferably in a field related to the work of the DSIC, with a minimum of 5 years of supervisory and administrative experience.
The salary for this position is in the mid-fifties to mid-seventies, commensurate with experience - plus benefits. Again, if you are aware of any person(s) who might be an appropriate candidate for the Executive Director position, ask them to please send a cover letter, together with salary requirements, resume, and a reference list by February 8, 2008 to DSIC Executive Search Committee, Attn: Colleen Merays, Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, 184 Jay Street, Schenectady, NY 12305, or email to mailto:Colleen@downtown%20Schenectady.com.

We plan to contact the successful candidates to setup first interviews the week of February 25, 2008. If you have any additional questions please let me know. Thank you for your support, time, and assistance with this important matter.



Sincerely,
Colleen Merays Interim Director Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. 184 Jay Street Schenectady, NY 12305 (w) 377-9430 (f) 377-9433

Dealing with Going out of Business Signs

Landlords, tenants spar over going-out-of-business signageA retailer’s “going out of business” sign can become a banner of failure for an otherwise healthy shopping center, lament landlords and property managers that are struggling to prevent the plastering of such notices over shop windows. Despite lease language prohibiting such sales, bankruptcy courts tend to side with liquidating tenants, landlords say. “Any real estate owner that owns lots of assets is going to run into these liquidations,” said Christopher Weilminster, senior vice president of leasing at Rockville, Md.–based Federal Realty Investment Trust. “It’s pretty ugly, and it’s not anything you want to see, but as a large landlord, it’s inevitable that these will become a part of your business. We have 300 tenants in our portfolio, and at one time or another, something’s going to happen.”But this does not mean that center owners must shrink from defending their contractual rights in the struggle to maintain a property’s image, sources say. The landlords of some of the 520 stores Movie Gallery closed after filing for Chapter 11 last year asked a bankruptcy judge to rein in the retailer’s store-closing tactics. The 16 landlords, including Inland Real Estate Group of Cos. and Wal-Mart, said the court’s liquidation guidelines were “broad, unilateral and egregious” and allowed Movie Gallery to operate open-ended sales that would harm the integrity of the shopping centers. The plaintiffs asked that Movie Gallery be kept from using the word “bankruptcy” or neon or Day-Glo colors on any signage. They also requested limits on sale hours. Movie Gallery agreed to restrict its closing sales to the centers’ regular operating hours, to complete the sales events within 60 days and to restrict “the extent and content” of the signs. Even as U.S. courts approve going-out-of-business sales, they are demonstrating some regard for the shopping centers’ operating environments. They are forbidding the stores to spill out from their spaces into the common areas and to conduct on-site auctions and the like. The courts are also restricting the sale hours and the positioning of on-premises promotional sign holders. Though most landlords draft explicit language prohibiting going-out-of business sales in the “Use” or “Operation by Tenant” sections of the leases, bankruptcy courts still favor maximizing creditor distributions and tend not to hold the tenant to some of the stricter lease provisions, says Andy Graiser, co-president of DJM Realty, a Melville, N.Y.–based disposition firm.This can start a legal tussle. “In certain situations, if communication between the parties breaks down, landlords will get more aggressive,” Graiser said. “But landlords generally understand what needs to get done in these sales, and that is to make sure that all of the inventory gets sold to satisfy creditors.” And often, he says, among those creditors are the shopping centers themselves. Many states require a permit for going-out-of-business sales, in part to keep merchants from falsely promoting liquidation sales and profiting at the expense of same-center competitors and unwary shoppers. Sometimes the merchant does not close down at all, but instead merely changes the store’s ownership or name. “These laws are largely created to protect the consumer,” Graiser said. Following a rash of retail bankruptcies among predominantly enclosed-mall tenants in the early 1990s, prominent retail landlords have made doubly sure that all their standard leases place restrictions on going-out-of-business sales, says John Kokinchak, senior vice president of property management at Developers Diversified Realty Corp. “But, ironically, the lease language exists to prevent the type of signage we see the court overriding,” he said. “With some exceptions, courts still allow stores to hang big banners that completely block views into the store.”

FW: Sustainable Development - We Have to Do It Now!

Subject: Sustainable Development - We Have to Do It Now!

Hello everyone,

The organization Project for Public Spaces just nominated the Plateau
Mont-Royal among the best and most pleasurable neighbourhoods in the world!

As a stakeholder of The Plateau, the Mont-Royal Avenue Business Improvement
Association became this year one of the first merchant's association to
adopt a sustainable development plan. The reason is why we care about the
environment, the economy and the quality of life of our community.

Discover it on this website:
http://www.mont-royal.net/articles.php?id=727&change_section=&page=12

Or in PDF:
http://www.mont-royal.net/client_file/upload/document/brochureDD.pdf

Best regards.

CHARLES-OLIVIER MERCIER
Services to the members and sustainable development coordinator

MONT-ROYAL AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
1012, Mont-Royal ave., Office 101
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2J 1X6
cmercier@mont-royal.net
Téléphone: (514) 522-3797, ext. 35
Fax: (514) 522-2413

Think sustainable !

Picture of the Day

NYC Office of Small Business Services

shows they mean business. Enterance layout screems that they support business.

NEW BLOG FOR BID's

Hello Fellow BID People and those who follow BIDs:

I want to invite you to visit a new blog I created that we can all use to stay in contact to share ideas and problems with each other about BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRCITS.

Most of you know that Blogs are an easy way to post ideas, questions, and opinions. I have heard from so many of you over the years that us “BID” people need something we can use to stay connected. In my opinion Web sites are too static and require way too much maintenance as well as cost. With a blog we can all post in a flash and its out to the whole group.

Even right NOW in real time… It updates news from around the world on the topics of BIDs, SADs, BIZ’s etc. That’s along the right column and the member posts are right in the middle section.

Please give it a try. If you have an RSS reader you can even have the posts and the updates on news sent right to your in box! Its that easy.

If you think of a function that you think is missing let me know, I promise to add it if its possible. I can create things like an opinion poll, or add a link to a particular resource like ESDC or what ever (Or its what ever you want!) If you hear of any news or information that your fellow BID Managers could use, please post it.

If you are one of the those who find that just getting you email is too scary, I will be glad to post it for you! Just send it to me. We won’t mock your tech skills!

Please understand its brand new, so its light on content right now, but I put a few things on there just to get it started, but if we all keep adding to it, it will be a great resource we can all call upon in the future!

Thanks and happy Blogging! Please post!

IEDC names Best Economic Development Websites for 2007

 

 

 

September 2007 IEDC NAMES BEST WEBSITES OF 2007 Last week the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announced the top economic development websites at its Annual Conference in Phoenix. The award-winning websites are impressive and their results are noteworthy. These best-practice websites are models for economic development organizations to follow. Top Special Purpose Website by Population • Population 200,000 or more: Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance, CA • Population 200,000 or more: Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, TX • Population 50,000 to 200,000: The Port of Shreveport-Bossier, LA • Population 50,000 or less City of Englewood, CO Top General Purpose Website by Population • Population 200,000 or more: Milwaukee 7, WI • Population 200,000 or more: Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, AZ • Population 50,000 to 200,000: Bismarck-Mandan Development Association, ND • Population 50,000 or less City of Blue Ash, OH According to IEDC, the Greater Waco Chamber was a "clear standout" that communicates "strategic community initiatives and is the key resource for regional data as a tool for investment in the Waco area." The Waco Prospector site, www.wacoprospector.com, is a regional database of available sites and buildings. The core business tool pulls together local GIS data combined with demographics, business mapping, labor force data and interactive maps. IEDC describes the website saying, "This serves as a tool for site consultants, commercial real estate brokers, industry, and local businesses searching for properties or searching for demographic and business data in a particular area." "The award serves as a salute to pacesetting organizations like the Greater Waco Chamber for leading the charge," said Ronnie L. Bryant, IEDC chairman. See the list of 2007 winners, honorable mentions and previous award-winners. Please forward this e-Newsletter to your friends interested in this information. They can subscribe to the monthly e-Newsletter by e-mailing info@EconomicDevelopmentonline.com. For more information about e-strategies for economic development please visit EconomicDevelopmentOnline.com. Over 5,000 economic development professionals throughout the United States receive this newsletter. You know what the rest don't.

 

EVENT ALERTS

America Unchained!
Shop independent businesses on Saturday November 17, 2007

The American Independent Business Alliance invites your organization to participate in this growing national campaign that urges communities to unchain themselves (to shop only at locally owned independent businesses) for just one day.

America Unchained! puts the focus on community economics by helping citizens recognize the economic benefit of local, independent businesses and think about the impact of where they choose to spend their dollars, not only for the upcoming holiday season, but every day.

Begun in 2003 by the Austin Independent Business Alliance (AIBA), Austin Unchained was a huge success. AIBA calculated the amount of money the local economy would gain if every citizen shopped at only locally owned businesses for one day. The number was stunning and grabbed the attention of both Austinites and local government. AIBA generated substantial local media exposure to drum up community support and participation. Through their posters, flyers, and t-shirts, word spread and the community joined in to inject millions into Austin’s economy.

AMIBA conducted the campaign nationally for the first time in 2004 with great success. Unchained is a “media darling” for its edginess and proximity to the holiday shopping season.

AMIBA provides templates for posters, a logo, button designs, press releases, and more for your use. Participants register at www.amiba.net . Registration gains them access to a library of campaign support materials and places them on a list that is provided to the media. Visit www.amiba.net for more information.

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