by Linda Stinnett
An ongoing effort to revitalize Mulvane’s downtown business sector could gain a boost from consulting services.
Jason Van Sickle, who heads the Old Town Association in Wichita and plans to build apartment complexes in several area communities, including Mulvane, and Matt Jordan, with the Kansas Leadership Center, offered consultation services to the Downtown Revitalization Program during its monthly meeting on Monday. A third partner in their consultation efforts is Mary Helmer, a former Main Street Kansas director who now has her own consulting company. She was not present for the meeting.
Van Sickle said after he previously met with the Mulvane group, the three brainstormed over the goals the community is working to meet. He indicated that Mulvane is facing the same problems as many Kansas communities and that previous solutions found there could help in this instance.
“There’s a path out there, that is already tried and true,” he said.
Mulvane has the advantage of already gaining momentum from the casino, along with some funding to provide the consultation.
“We are really not trying to sell you anything,” Van Sickle said. “We’re here to work with you.”
The revitalization effort has evolved, but needs a clear structure, he said. As a public/private partnership, Van Sickle said the consultants can help the organization better understand how to leverage loans with tax credits and take additional opportunities.
For those without experience in the process, it can be daunting, he said.
“Real estate development is complicated,” he said.
Jordan said the consulting effort could help the effort apply best practices and create a sustainable organization for revitalization.
“This is an invitation for a continued dialogue,” he said.
Renee Lippincott, regional project manager for business and community development for the Kansas Department of Commerce, told the Mulvane business representatives she was pleased with what she was hearing from the group.
“But, everything will be a shelf item if the locals don’t step up, fill committees and be the boots on the ground,” she said.
Two business representatives said they had talked to another business, after he noted that he needed new office space. He has since been looking at downtown space.
“The best ideas won’t do anything for a town unless you have everybody involved,” Van Sickle said.
Van Sickle and Jordan will return to the revitalization group with a written proposal for consulting. If the group agrees, the proposal will go to the city council for approval.
“The city will be supportive of the efforts," Mayor Jim Ford said.