About The St. Albans Renaissance Group

St. Albans Renaissance Group serves as the official partner between private business, community and government in revitalization efforts and seeks to promote an environment in Saint Albans conducive to investment and community building.  It is our goal to preserve what it is about Saint Albans that makes it unique.  The work of the Saint Albans Renaissance Group is carried out primarily by the efforts of over a hundred volunteers who serve in various capacities on four project-oriented committees:

Design

The Design Committee was formed initially to work with area businesses and community people to focus on ways to feature the "treasures" of St. Albans.  Capitalizing on its best assets - such as historical buildings and traditional downtown layout - is just part of the story.  The Saint Albans Renaissance Group is working to create an atmosphere that visually sends a message about Saint Albans through window displays, parking areas, signs and landscaping.  What follows are some of the projects the Design Committee is pursuing:

• Facade Grants
• Uniform Signage Plan
• Design Guidelines Manual
• Citywide Bicycle/Walking Trail
• Explore Ways to Improve Olde Main Plaza
• Sixth Avenue Streetscape Project
• Market Tax Credits to Building Owners in the Historic District

Organization

The Organization Committee's goal is to get everyone working towards the same goal.  The tough work of building consensus and cooperation among the groups that have an important stake in the City can be eased by using the common-sense formula of a volunteer-driven program, an organizational structure of board of directors and committees and a financially strong organization.  Aside from these, the Organization Committee will continue to pursue the following:

• Organize Annual Meeting
• Produce Annual Work Plan
• Membership and Volunteer recruitment and training
• Public Relations

Economic Restructuring

The Economic Restructuring Committee is charged with the task of finding new purpose for St. Albans enterprises by helping existing businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today's market.  Saint Albans Renaissance Group will work t help convert unused space into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprise.  Aside from these, the Economic Restructuring Committee will pursue the following:

• Rollout Virtual City website
• Complete building inventory
• Marketing Plan assistance for businesses
• Website development for businesses
• Business Development seminar
• Window Display seminar

Promotion

The Promotion Committee will focus on selling the image and promise of Saint Albans to all prospects.  By marketing the district's unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers.  In addition to these, the Promotion Committee's task to generate excitement and create attention currently involves the planning of the following:

• Easter Parade
• Patriotic Rally
• Fall Festival
• Winter Dance

How Can You Help?

To create change, many volunteers and members are needed.  We're off to a good start, but we want your help.  For information on how you can participate in the revitalization of Saint Albans, call our office at (304) 722-0065, or email us at sargnet@netzero.net