Small Town Author to Help Downtown Rochester Envision the Future

Embrace, Plan, and Dream Your Downtown

On Wednesday evening, April 13, Downtown Rochester is conducting a Downtown Visioning Session. The purpose of the session is to guide the future growth and development of Downtown Rochester. Downtown revitalization expert and Flip This Town author Ron Drake will facilitate the Visioning Session.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to facilitate a Community Visioning Session in Rochester next month,” stated Ron Drake. “I’m fortunate to travel all across America assisting in community revitalization, and I’m honored to be able to work in the community that has one of my favorite downtowns!”

Author Ron Drake will Help Flip This Town

Author Ron Drake will Help Flip This Town

Apply to Help by April 1

The Rochester DDA is seeking individuals from the greater Rochester area to participate in this important session. Space is limited. To apply, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/DowntownRochester and complete a brief survey. Selected participants will receive email confirmation in early April for the Visioning Session.

“What better way to plan your own destiny than being a part of an event that sets the course for your own future,” commented Nik Banda, Community & Economic Development Officer for the City of Rochester. “This great event which will “pick the brains” of a wide range of local residents and business owners will guide us as we plan and direct our own futures here in Rochester. The energy in the room is sure to be electric!”

Held at the Royal Park Hotel, the Downtown Visioning Session is a collaborative effort of the Rochester City Council, Rochester DDA and Rochester PSD. For more information, contact the Rochester DDA at 248/656-0060.

About Ron Drake

Ron Drake is all about improving the quality of life in small town America. Through his different companies he bought and sold over 45 homes, specializing in historic neighborhoods. Subsequently, Ron made the shift to the core downtown and restored 17 historic buildings, revitalizing over 75,000 square feet of downtown space and helped turn the unlively downtown of Siloam Springs, Arkansas into a vibrant cultural center, and was instrumental in their listing as Number 14 in Smithsonian Magazine’s Best Small Towns in America. In 2014, Parade Magazine listed Siloam Springs as the Fourth Best Main Street in America.

Main Street Arkansas awarded Ron the Main Street Hero award, an extremely high honor. Other accolades include: Best Renovation Project for Buildings Over 5,000SF for 28 Springs Restaurant in Siloam Springs; Outstanding Personal Project for the restoration of the Connelly-Harrington House, home of Ron Drake Consulting; Chamber Business of the Year; Main Street Volunteer of the Year; and a past honoree of the 40 Under 40 by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. Ron’s projects are visible in multiple news, TV and magazine stories, sharing his practical approach to preservation.

Ron shares his story in his book, Flip this Town- Preservation Made Practical on Main Street USA, giving inspiration to small towns all across America. Ron speaks, teaches and consults all across the country about how infusing lives into a downtown core attracts new life to a community, focusing on the overall quality of life.  Teaching through his own experiences to inspire, equip and restore, Ron is uniquely qualified to guide any organization through the process of accomplishing their vision of having a vital, thriving downtown.

About Rochester Media

Rochester Media publishes The Community Edge digital newsletter of recently posted articles from Rochester Media, a hyper-local news outlet covering all things in and around Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township. Send us you press releases and news happenings to editor@rochestermedia.com.

Comments

  1. How about a historic district downtown to protect the buildings?

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