Main Street Montana Program committee close on Havre application

Editor’s note: This version corrects that Jody Olson is a former Havre Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. Julea Robbins took over as director Sept. 1.

The chair of a steering committee working to add Havre as an affiliate of Montana Main Street Program said the the community could greatly benefit if it grabs a hold of the opportunity.

"There is energy here and it needs to be harnessed and focus," Chair Steve Helmbrecht said.

The proposal drafted by the committee said people driving through may not realize the true nature of the community and its residents.

"Havre would love for its face to match its heart and proclaim the unique history and heritage it holds as well as the trendy and new opportunities it offers," the proposal.

Helmbrecht said Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss is getting the master plan together for the community to apply to the program by Oct. 1.

Tuss, then-Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jody Olson and Havre Mayor Tim Solomon spearheaded starting the effort, holding a meeting to explain the program and see if people were interested July 8.

Helmbrecht is the chair of the board comprising local business and property owners to collect information and plan for the application.

Montana established the program in 2005, a collaborative effort between Montana Department of Commerce's Community Development Division and Montana Office of Tourism. The program helps communities strengthen and preserve their historic downtown commercial districts by focusing on economic development, urban revitalization and historic preservation through long-range planning organization, design and promotion.

The Montana Main Street program offers technical assistance and expertise to member communities and awards competitive grant funding to communities actively working on downtown revitalization, economic development and historic preservation, the website said.

Helmbrecht said what sparked his interest in being involved was for Havre to remain in the position as a hub for Hi-Line, it really needs to have a group or people working together for a common goal.

"Our community would like to construct a well-rounded master plan that involves plenty of local buy-in and pride as well as practical steps we can begin to take as possible to spark change in the downtown culture and fiber of Havre perception as a whole," Helmbrecht said.

He said the goals the committee listed in their master plan include:

• Increase aesthetic appeal to be attractive, functional and exciting

• Facilitate historic preservation

• Improve walkability/ bikeability/ accessibility

• Establish energy or a buzz that draws families and tourists to downtown spaces

• Maximize and integrate us of outdoor space

• Support current businesses and building owners

• Promote new events

• Capitalize on unique features of town and area

• Project realistic timeline for accomplishing master plan goals

"Once we would get approved then we can go ahead and apply for matching funds from the state through Main Street Montana to get our overall master plan," he said. 

In the meantime, he said, the committee created subcommittees working on art and beautification and the historic aspect of downtown.  

Debbie Vandeberg is the chair of the art and beautification committee and is Becki Miller is chair of the historical committee.

"Our objective is to get everybody together on the same page, and even though we may disagree, we'll have some things that we have in common that we can push forward toward," Helmbrecht said.

The committee's proposal said the committee members are also interested in taking advantage of resources available through the Montana Department of Commerce's Main Street Program to achieve their goals for downtown Havre.

The committee also listed revitalization goals that the community aims to achieve over the next two years of Montana Main Street Program, Helmbrecht said and those are:

• Long-term master plan for community revitalization and economic development 

• Pride of ownership communitywide

• Cleanup

• Storefront updates

• Signage

• Historic preservation

• Improve walkability/ bikeability/ accessibility

• Establish energy/buzz

• Vibrancy/color

• More forms of art 

• Establish a Tax Increment Financing district

• Encourage outdoor dining and recreation

• Website access to local offerings/a location where information about local offering is kept and updated