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Warrensburg Main Street (WMS) was incorporated in 1995 as a 501 C-3 non-profit
organization to promote the economic
health and development of downtown Warrensburg. .
WMS is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes representative
from among the
following categories: Property Owners, Service and Retail businesses, Professional
Organizations, and
Associate (Individual) members. The Board members serve staggered
terms, and certain new Board members are elected each
year in June. WMS is staffed by a
full time Executive Director, currently Jill Calvert, who reports to the Board. The
Board
meets monthly, and the chairpersons of its four permanent committees; Promotions,
Economic Restructuring, Design
and Organization, meet with their committee members as
needed.
WMS derives funds from a variety of sources: The
general fund receives monies from a
contract from the City of Warrensburg, grants, and other donations solicited by Board
members from business and industry. These monies are dedicated to cover personnel
expenses of WMS, as well as to fund
the activities of the WMS committees. Our office space .
is donated by UMB Bank and they also pay our utilities.
Since
WMS's inception, and inpart due to its efforts, the vacancy rate in downtown
Warrensburg has decreased from 12 percent
to 4 percent. In addition, WMS has helped the
downtown remain a vital commercial district despite competition from strip
malls and
big-box retailers. WMS has sponsored award winning promotional events and has been
involved in facilitating
public/private partnerships that have resulted in such
improvements as the Veterans Memorial Walk Way, Murals, banners,
a historic walking
tour, and a unified approach to dealing with such concerns as infrastructure and safety.
The Design
Committee recognizes business and property owners that appropriately
improve the exterior of their building, and provides
resources and assistance for specific
projects. Small grants and loans to stimulate visible enhancements to downtown
businesses
are overseen by the Design committee.
For all downtown businesses and property owners, WMS can be a voice for their
concerns .
in dealing with governmental institutions, and in representing downtown core interests in
the interaction
of various constituencies in the greater community.
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