It appears that this sub group is doing great things to get a club here in HS. Without really kicking off a fund drive, they have pledges of at least $6000. They are now working with the Hill City B&G to finalize the roadmap which will help insure success. This is a vital investment in the community’s youth — our future leaders and we must promote this as a Horizon’s success story.
Do you want to help make Hot Springs a “destination city” where people come to see our attractions, purchase our services, food and products — but not settle here? Would you like to help plan signage, improve the business district, get involved in a “shop local” campaign, complete the Veterans Memorial, promote the arts community, and grow entrepreneurs?
Come to the Horizons community dinner Feb 21 at the American Legion (6 p.m., lasagne, good food, good people) and sign up for a team, or — if you can’t make it — leave a comment here with your contact information and someone will get in touch with you.
Goal 2: Provide opportunity and support for business and economic development and entrepreneurship.
Goal 2 - Objective 1: Promote “destination retail” and attractions. Implementation Step …………………………………………………………. Completion Date
1. Find funding to hire an expert to assess the economic community
and make recommendations …………………………………………………………..… 06/15/08
2. Select and hire the expert……………………….………………………..………………… 08/01/08
3. Receive, evaluate and act on the assessment recommendations….………… 06/01/09
Method of Evaluation…………………………………………………………….Completion Date
Report is complete and group is taking action on it ……………………………. 12/01/09
Goal 2 - Objective 2: Develop effective signage to encourage and facilitate visitation.
Implementation Steps ……………………………………………………………Completion Date
1. Meet with SD DOT for price quotes and requirements………………. 03/01/08
2. Find funding and determine locations……………………………….………… 07/15/08
Method Of Evaluation ……………………………………………….Completion Date
Agreed-upon signage is in correct locations………………………………….. 01/01/09
Goal 2 - Objective 3: Improve business district.
Implementation Steps …………………………………………………….. Completion Date
1. Increase business accessibility through infrastructure
modifications such as walking areas.………………………………….… 07/01/08 & Continuing
2 Develop “shop local” campaign ……..…………………………..……………….. 05/01/08
3 Complete plan in place for annual clean up & fix up day..………..……. 08/01/08
4 Inventory & develop promotion plan to fill vacant buildings…………… 09/01/08
Methods Of Evaluation ………………………………………………….. Completion Date
Obtain City Council approval of plan for infrastructure modification (#1)…. 10/01/08
Infrastructure modification (#1) is under way ………………………..……..…………01/01/09
“Shop local” campaign is implemented ………………………………………….….…… 09/15/08
First annual clean-up, fix-up day is complete …………………………………………. 10/01/08
Vacant building inventory is complete ……………………………………………….…… 10/01/08
Promotion plan to fill vacant buildings is approved by Chamber …………….… 01/15/09
Goal 2 - Objective 4: Complete the Veteran’s Memorial.
Implementation Steps ………………………………………………………. Completion Date
Find funding and an organization to complete………………….……………………….. 04/01/08
Method Of Evaluation……………………………………………………….Completion Date
Veterans Memorial is complete …………………..………………………………………. 04/01/09
Goal 2 - Objective 5: Promote Hot Springs Arts Community.
Implementation Steps ………………………………………………………… Completion Date
1. Advertise and display visual arts by local artists …………………. 1/28/08 & Ongoing
2. Advertise musical arts by local artists ………..…………………… 01/28/08 & Ongoing
3. Advertise and display fine crafts by local artists ……………….. 01/28/08 & Ongoing
Method of Evaluation
Advertise art activities and events in retail locations ………….……….. 01/28/08 & Ongoing
Advertise art activities and events on Horizons blogsite ……………… 03/01/08 & Ongoing
Goal 2 - Objective 6: Grow Entrepreneurs.
Implementation Steps…………………………………………………………..Completion Date
Schedule a seminar to educate community about micro-lending ……………….. 04/01/08
Involve the Hot Springs Economic Development Corporation …………………… 03/15/08
Create a mentoring group to encourage and provide counsel
to entrepreneurs with specific business ideas……..……………………………………….. 06/15/08
Establish capital-structure for micro-enterprise lending program………..….…… 01/01/09
Method Of Evaluation…………………………………………………………….Completion Date
A minimum of two enterprises are funded ………………………………….…………..…. 06/01/09
Are you interested in helping to mobilize our community toward major infrastructure changes to make us a viable, healthy, community with traffic that flows instead of semitrucks bogging down traffic and obstructing views in our history business district? Are you interested in extending and improving the river walk along Fall River (Freedom Trail)?
Come to the Horizons community dinner Feb 21 at the American Legion (6 p.m., lasagne, good food, good people) and sign up for a team, or — if you can’t make it — leave a comment here with your contact information and someone will get in touch with you.
____________________________________________________
Goal 4: Improve City Infrastructure Note: These are government enhancement to city infrastructure, desired by the community,not fully funded on this date, which Horizons will support and encourage through its organizational efforts.
Goal 4 -Objective 1: Improve city water system - 3 new areas this fall.Goal 4 - Objective 2: Complete Skate Park
Goal 4 - Objective 3: Change 4-lane on University Ave. to 2 lane with turning lane and parking on the sides. Change 4-lane from intersection of truck by-pass into town to 2-lane with turning lane and parking on the sides, to slow traffic coming into town.
Goal 4 - Objective 4: Construct river walk sidewalk along North River streets from University to Minnekahta.
Goal 4 - Objective 5: Install new wider bridge at Jennings Ave. to expand parking at Centennial Park and the Freedom trail.
Goal 4 - Objective 6: Extend the Freedom Trail to Chautauqua Park.
Goal 4 - Objective 7: Lobby Department of Transportation for new truck bypass - 2-lane with turning lane and 35 mph.
Implementation Steps, Objectives 1 - 7 …………………………………………….Completion Date
1. Research: Contact state DOT to learn requirements for inclusion in
State-Federal Highway Plan……………………………………………………………………..06/01/08
2. Research grants to help with funding. ……………………………………………………… 08/01/08
3. Pour concrete for skateboard park. ………………………………………………………….. 05/31/08
4. Contact people affected (City of Hot Springs, Hills Material, State Vets Home, individuals) by new bypass for their input and approval …………………………………………………….. Ongoing
Methods Of Evaluation …………………………………………………………………Completion Date
Site inspections periodically through construction …………………….……..……….……….. Ongoing
Final walkthrough before final payments…………………….……………………………….….. As needed
Brett Nachtigall, Star publisher and member of the Children & Youth ATF, blogs answers to two questions:
How has your community changed since joining Horizons?
Prior to Horizons, there were already a lot of people in the community who had a lot of good ideas to improve our community. Horizons however was able to bring those people and their ideas together, under one common goal.
Until Horizons was introduced to us in Hot Springs, the people and their ideas had little direction and it was difficult to draw the lines between everyone’s goals as they oftentimes seemed unrelated.
Now when I tell someone about a project that was generated from a Horizons discussion, people immediately recognize the bigger picture and that the project has the support of a large part of the community.
During the Horizons Study Circles, there was a lot of discussion about our youth and how we could help them. Our Children and Youth Task Force, which was created out of the Study Circles, brought all of the various ideas together. In addition, we also gained further input from the entire community though a survey of both children and their parents. Based on all of the input we accumulated, I’m confident we are heading in the right direction by working towards opening our very own Boys and Girls Club.
Without Horizons providing the catalyst for our efforts, I do not believe we would have been able to get all of the people and their ideas together, under one common goal, to make this happen.
Is your community more hopeful about the future? How do you know?
I do believe the community is more hopeful about the future. I can feel it in myself and can see it on the faces of my fellow Youth and Children Task Force members. With our current plans of opening a Boys and Girls Club in Hot Springs, there is a genuine feeling of excitement about what we are doing. We all have big dreams about what our work will create. But what is most exciting, is that we all believe that the dream will come true because we have the support of Horizons and the guidance of an internationally successful program like the Boys and Girls Club.