We are excited to announce that the St. Johns Main Street Coalition is now accepting applications for an AmeriCorps VISTA member to start service in July 2013, The AmeriCorps VISTA member will work for a 12 month period with St Johns Main Street to support the mission and goals of the organization. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide capacity building support to stimulate economic development within the St. Johns neighborhood business district. The AmeriCorps VISTA member will work with the staff, board, and volunteers to build organizational infrastructure, expand community partnerships, secure long-term resources and coordinate training.

Main Street AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Goals

1. To stimulate economic activity within the business districts utilizing the Main Street Four-Point Approach® resulting in increased opportunities for gainful & secure employment.
2. To develop and implement fundraising strategies based on diversified income streams. Secure resource development strategies will allow the organizations to spend more time on economic development activities and less on fundraising activities.
3. To create a strong base of committed volunteers and the systems to support transitions on or off of committees and/or projects.

Click here for more information. To apply, visit the AmeriCorps website.

We extend our thanks to all the St. Johns merchants and customers that recently took part in our First Annual Spring Drawing. The drawing took place between March 15 and March 24; shoppers received a drawing entry with any purchase made at 28 participating St. Johns merchants. With over 1300 entries in this drawing we were delighted to see such enthusiasm and support for this event! We congratulate our three winners, Jessica Gallegos, Susan Lynch, and Lynsey Copeland! Each won a gift certificate to be used at one or several of the 28 participating shops, restaurants, and service providers. We are proud of the success of this first ever St. Johns Spring Drawing, and look forward to growing this event in the coming years. Thank you all for your participating and support of St. Johns local businesses!

Spring is on its way, and to give it a proper welcome we are encouraging you to spring into action and come visit your favorite stores and restaurants in downtown St. Johns! Between March 15^th and March 24^th, shoppers will receive one entry into our spring drawing with each purchase made at any participating St. Johns business. At the end of the week we will draw three lucky winners from among all the entries – a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to spend at participating businesses in St. Johns. There is no minimum purchase required, and every purchase you make earns you another opportunity to win! With 28 participating businesses, you are sure to find the perfect Easter gifts, spring decorations, and delicious food and drink. For more information and a list of participating businesses, see the flyer below, look for the poster at your favorite merchants, or visit our Facebook event page. We look forward to seeing you!

The St. Johns Main Street Coalition is pleased to announce the results of the 2013 elections. The by-laws changes passed and all five nominees were elected to the Board of directors. We are very excited to welcome Nicole Lennol, Mike Fahey, John Huckfeldt, Nicole Blanchette, and John Palmeri as new members of the board.

Thanks to all of you who voted in the elections and attended the annual meeting. The Board and volunteers left feeling invigorated and inspired to continue to do great work in St. Johns in 2013.

The St. Johns Main Street Coalition is distributing ballots for the 2013 board elections. Volunteers with SJMSC, and business owners and property owners located in the SJMSC target area are all eligible to vote in the election. Ballots, along with board nominee bios and a review of proposed by-laws changes can be found at the links posted below. Eligible voters may also find paper copies of the ballot available in the SJMSC office. Ballots are to be submitted to info@stjohnsmainstreet.org  or turned into the SJMSC office. After regular office hours, paper ballots may be placed in the office mail slot on Lombard St. Ballots are due by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 12^th and the results will be announced at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, March 13^th at 7:00 at Juniper & Rye. All community members are encouraged to join us for the Annual Meeting to hear of the elections results, learn about our 2012 projects and our exciting plans for 2013.  If you have questions about the process or about your eligibility to vote, please contact Robin at robinw@stjohnsmainstreet.org or 503-841-5522.

Ballot and Board Bios PDF

Proposed Bylaws

Online Ballot

St. Johns Main Street Design Committee is hosting a competition to design the new street sign toppers in the downtown business district. Fill out the entry form and e-mail or drop off your entry at the Main Street Office no later than January 2, 2013. Both electronic (PDF) and hard copy submissions are acceptable. Representatives from St. Johns Boosters, Neighborhood Association, Bizarre, and Farmers Market will judge the competition. The winner will be announced at the SJMS annual meeting on January 16, 2013. The winning design will be fabricated and installed on street signs throughout the business district. Good luck!

Competition Entry Form (1)

St. Johns Main Street Coalition Announces Board Openings
Nominations Being Accepted through December 14, 2012
 
The St. Johns Main Street Coalition (SJMSC), a nonprofit neighborhood economic development organization, today announced the opening of nominations for its Board of Directors.
 
“St. Johns is lucky to have so many committed residents and local business and property owners working toward a shared vision for the St. Johns business district. It’s the heart of our small town in the middle of the big city,” said Ryan Deibert, SJMSC’s board president. “Main Street offers the community a proven approach to support the business district. Working as a leader on the Board of Directors is a significant responsibility, but also a great opportunity to make a real difference.”
 
Board members are responsible for setting policy for the organization, overseeing finances and fundraising and approving programmatic plans. The board meets monthly, and board members typically also serve on one of four working committees: economic restructuring, design, promotions and organization.
 
Anyone can submit nominations for the board. Nominations can be submitted via e-mail (info@stjohnsmainstreet.org); by phone (503-841-5522); or in writing at the SJMSC office (drop off in-person or through mail slot at 8250 N Lombard, Portland, OR 97203). Nominations will be accepted until 5pm, December 14, 2012.
 
“If there is someone in the community that you think would be a good board member, helping St. Johns develop an even more diverse and vibrant business district, please nominate them,” noted Deibert. “And if you think you have skills and enthusiasm to bring to the board, by all means, nominate yourself.” Nominees representing businesses or property owners within the district are especially encouraged.
 
Board members will be chosen from nominees in an election in January with results announced at an annual meeting on January 16. Business and property owners within the SJMSC district boundaries as well as individuals who have volunteered for SJMSC in the past year will be eligible to vote. Additional details will be available at www.stjohnsmainstreet.org.
 
St. Johns Main Street Coalition is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to create a thriving and diverse town center that supports and attracts small businesses and customers. SJMSC connects the people and resources of St. Johns to preserve our unique business district, promote livability, and foster responsible development for the future.
 
For more information, contact Ryan Deibert at 503-484-6037 or rdeibert@comcast.net.

• New staff: Robin Wright has joined SJMSC as a full-time VISTA volunteer for 2012-13, to focus on volunteer development and fundraising. She comes most recently from Causa Oregon, Oregon’s statewide Latino immigrant rights organization, where she worked as their policy director.
• New structure: In order to act as good stewards of SJMSC current funding while supporting as much direct investment in the business district as possible, we have elected to operate during 2012-13 as a volunteer-run organization. We have temporarily postponed our search for a full-time Executive Director, which we expect to resume next spring.
• New board leadership: Over the past year-and-a-half, Jeff Bissonnette has led SJMSC as the President of the Board of Directors through much of the organization’s early development and successes, and is now passing the baton to the current Vice President, Ryan Deibert. Jeff continues as a key member of the board, and in the coming months the board looks to build its strength as a volunteer working board by recruiting additional members.

Through each of these developments, SJMSC is strengthening our ability in the coming year to meet our commitment to build a vibrant business district in the heart of St. Johns that supports and is supported by the broader community.  Some really great things are happening in St. Johns, and SJMSC is proud to be a part of it.

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The rumors are true! Johns Tavern will be renovated into The Central Hotel by the building’s new owners, Risa and Brent Davis.  It’s expected opening is Spring 2014.

Johns Tavern will stay open through the City Review process, approximately 3-8 months. A new restaurant will open in the hotel’s lobby. Prospective restaurant tenants are currently being interviewed.

Construction is expected to take one year. During this time, stay tuned for fun events such as a façade removal party. “Sit in the plaza and watch it come down. It will be like opening a big present wrapped in stucco and metal,” said Risa.

In the next few weeks, Risa and Brent will start distributing investor packages to those who have expressed interest in giving back to the community or making a good investment. Interested parties simply need to sign a document pledging their support. Only after all funding has been secured, will transfer of funds be arranged. Risa and Brent are aiming to complete this phase by mid-September

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