Columbia City's downtown business owners unite to reinvent association, promote mutual interests
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Members of the newly formalized Downtown Columbia City Business Association met this morning to select a logo and finalize a letter urging local members to join the organization.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
In one form or another, they’ve been meeting for decades, but for the past year, the business owners in downtown Columbia City have been working toward refining their collective goals and objectives.
With a vote of the participants in February and the identification of goals in March, they decided to formalize the Downtown Columbia City Business Association (DCCBA) and move forward as an independent organization as they continue to advocate the importance of a thriving business community for downtown Columbia City.
A special meeting was held today to select a logo to represent the group and to finalize a letter that will be given to local businesses or service companies within the organization’s boundaries.
The purpose of the group is to act as an advocating and marketing entity for businesses in the vicinity of downtown Columbia City. Membership in the group will be open to all companies initially within the historic district in downtown Columbia City, however members are willing to expand that area if neighboring businesses want to join. Additionally, anyone supportive of the downtown business sector may elect to become a member as well.
Memberships will be $25 per year and will be put into a fund for use on future marketing, improvement projects or advocacy efforts for downtown businesses. The group is anticipating taking ownership of the Santa Claus house project in downtown Columbia City, among other things. A letter and membership form outlining to goals of the organization will be hand-delivered to downtown Columbia City businesses next week.
Steve Hostetler, owner of the CC Deli, was elected as the interim president of the group until a formal election of member businesses takes place later this year. Additionally, downtown block captains will be selected to keep their neighboring businesses informed regarding activities of the DCCBA.
Group members believe the organization will be able to do much to improve cohesiveness between downtown businesses and work as a unit to encourage the support of downtown businesses.
The DCCBA meets the first Wednesday of each month from 8-9 a.m. at the CC Deli on Van Buren Street. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate in discussions which typically center on upcoming promotions or concerns relating to downtown Columbia City.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Downtown Columbia City Business Owners Association may contact Steve Hostetler at 248-4700 or send an email to ccdeli@embarqmail.com.