By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Compared to its composition and makeup a year ago, the face of Downtown Whitewater Inc. is starkly different — a reality emphasized numerous times during a recently issued report.
Several representatives came before the Common Council on Nov. 1 and reported on the activities that have transpired this past year within Downtown Whitewater, a nonprofit organization that promotes businesses and other amenities in the heart of the city.
Courtney Nelson, who was installed as Downtown Whitewater’s executive director in late February, said collective attendance at all of the organization’s events has been on the upswing in year-over-year comparisons.
Throughout 2016, Nelson said 19,478 persons attended events sponsored by the organization. In 2015, about 12,000 persons visited the area. Nelson attributed the first full year of the Whitewater City Market as part of the reason for the increased visits.
Downtown Whitewater also is shifting some of its strategies, including what has been described as a new Main Street approach. The initiative, Nelson said, entails tying together different promotions and bringing new economic activity into the community.
While much of Downtown Whitewater’s overall mission remains the same, Kristine Zaballos, who serves on the organization’s board, said last year’s changing of the guard gave officials an opportunity to hit the pause button and engage in a long-range evaluation exercise.
“It essentially put us on hiatus for several months,” Zaballos said. “We’re excited about the new energy and about moving forward.”
Although the City Market has been a tangible asset to the downtown business community, Zaballos said it has borne fruit in other areas of Whitewater. Case in point: Vendors donated upward of 4,000 pounds of food to the Whitewater Food Pantry this year.
“We really welcome the opportunity to talk about how we can serve Downtown Whitewater and the greater community,” Zaballos said.
