Enjoy photos and videos we have gathered or produced to promote our wonderful Downtown.

• PHOTO GALLERY
• VIDEO GALLERY

Wenatchee Downtown Association
2012 Board of Directors, Officers & Staff

Board of Directors

Roy Gray (2009-2012) | General Manager | Davis Furniture
(Past President)   

Ken Boyle (2011 - 2014) | Director of Catering | Wenatchee Convention Center 

Stephanie Sanford | (2012-2015) | Branch Manager | Peoples Bank

Becky Driscoll (2011 - 12) | Marketing | Stemilt Creek Winery 
Becky’s background in marketing and management has prepared her for this position with the WDA Board. Through her previous positions she has honed the complex principles of public relations and strategic alliance building.  As well, she takes a comprehensive posture with group management during real life experiences through her non-profit involvement with the Junior Service League of Wenatchee, the Washington Elementary PTSA, Festival of Trees – Ladies’ Night Chair, and as a Board Member of Wenatchee Downtown Association.  Her personal experience with non-profit organizations does not stop with Wenatchee.  From her time in the Tri-Cities area, she volunteered on several committees such as the Friends of Badger Mountain, the Tapteal Greenway Association, Books For Bikes, Safe Kids Coalition, and as Chair for the Tri-Cities Bike Commute Challenge.  Her passion for community involvement comes naturally and has been a part of her life since she can remember. 

Mark Kulaas (City of Wenatchee Representative)
Wenatchee City Council 

List of Past Presidents
2011-2012 | Roy Gray | Davis Furniture
2010-2011 | Mary Woods | The Kitchen Sync
2009-2010 | Tamara Dezellem | Cordell, Meher & Co.
2008-2009 | Stephanie Sanford | People's Bank
2007-2008 | Sam Mills | Mills Bros.
2006-2007 | Gwen Sparks | WA Trust Bank
2005-2006 | Larry Karmil | The Wenatchee World
2004-2005 | Ardy Low | Key Bank
2003-2004 | Karen Rutherford | Mbr at Large
2002-2003 | Steve Gear | West Coast Hotel

Staff

Linda Haglund (2011 - present) | Executive Director

Elisabeth Holt (2009 - present) | Program & Event Director

Links to Board Documents

Main Street ^TM 

WDA's Washington State Main Street Evaluation (2007)
The WSMP periodically performs local program evaluations to assess the progress of designated Main Street organizations using the Main StreeT Apporoach^TM.  The folowing report addresses program strengths and weaknesses, progress of our committees, areas where technical assistance is needed, local perceptions & concerns affecting the program and recommendations for moving the program forward.
 Wenatchee Downtown Association Local Program Evaluation May 2007

Washington State Main Street News
The Wenatchee Downtown Association is coordinated with guidance from the Washington State Main Street Program.  There are currently 11 accredited programs, like Wenatchee, in Washington state, along with dozens of other downtowns and commercial districts working toward our level of success.  This document explains the process of becoming part of the Main Street program, along with statistics from programs across the state.
 WA State Main Street News, January 2010

Main Street Accreditation
The Washington State Main Street program reviews our organization once per year to ensure that we are meeting standards for a successful downtown revitalization effort. Our board president reviews this document with the executive director and the board.  It has been an effective tool to help track our results from year to year.  WDA has been accredited by Washington state and the National Main Street Program every year since 1992.
 Main Street Accreditation Evaluation

What Happened to Downtown?
The story of downtown is an intriguing one.  Downtown districts across the United States have gone through transitions similar to Wenatchee's.  This powerpoint, with notes, shows local and national examples of how associations such as ours can help revitailize an important part of our community.
(Sorry--this file is huge and we can't make it available for download yet.  Please contact our office for a copy.)

About Downtown Wenatchee 

City of Wenatchee's Sub-Area Plan for the Central Business District
Downtown Wenatchee lies within the city of Wenatchee's Central Business District boundaries. This encompasses a large footprint from 5th street on the north to Thurston on the south, and from Chelan Ave. on the west to Columbia Street on the east.  Several zoning overlays lie within the broader boundary, including Wenatchee's Historic Core, the stretch of Wenatchee Avenue between Second Street and Yakima Street.
 Central Business District Subarea Plan, April 2007

The Mission of the Wenatchee Downtown Association is to strengthen and enrich the downtown experience. 

We are cheerleaders for local small businesses, defenders of our historic downtown, promoters of local culture and ringleaders of those who will help us!

We are a non-profit organization that believes implicitly in the value of each individual’s contribution, whether it be financial contributions, great ideas or hours spent volunteering.

We are proud members of the Washington State Main Street Program and we are nationally-recognized as the 2003 National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Great American Main Street Award Winner. (Not too shabby considering there are over 1600 communities vying for this award across the country each year!)

Get More Information About the Main Street Approach!

The Main Street Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive program that is used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States.  It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts.  The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.

The Main Street approach is incremental; it is not designed to produce immediate change. Because they often fail to address the underlying causes of commercial district decline, expensive improvements, such as pedestrian malls, do not always generate the desired economic results. In order to succeed, a long-term revitalization effort requires careful attention to every aspect of downtown — a process that takes time and requires leadership and local capacity building.

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The WDA is here to make sure that our historic downtown is healthy and vibrant and that its unique character and personality remain preserved. We do this in many ways including:

•    Working with our Economic Restructuring Committee and the City of Wenatchee to develop a comprehensive vision for downtown that meets the needs of downtown residents, business and property owners.
•    Working with our Promotions Committee to develop projects, events and materials that draw guests downtown to shop, dine, obtain services or open their own business!
•    Working with our Design Committee to make sure that downtown is a safe, clean, visually appealing and historically authentic destination for guests, residents, business and property owners.
•    Working with our Officers and Board of Directors to advocate for downtown businesses within our community and on state and national levels.

Get More Information About Serving on a WDA Committee to Make Your Voice Heard!