Mending Main Street - (as taken directly from the Tantasqua Town Common)

The following story - credited to and written by Matt Bernatt - was published by him in the Tantasqua Town Common.

STURBRIDGE– In a bid to reverse the town's economic decline, Selectman Thomas Creamer brought together business owners, government leaders and residents to rally support for the creation of the Sturbridge Merchants Co-operative.

Creamer described the Co-operative as a union between government and local business leaders to jumpstart the economy through a series of events and discount packages aimed at tourists. Another goal is to establish a town-wide “sense of place.” At the end of his hour-long presentation, which ran the gamut from promotional ideas to making government/business relations “streamlined”, Creamer received applause from the 70 or so crammed into the Publick House ballroom.

Alongside small business owners were representatives from the town’s economic anchors such as Yankee Spirits, Old Sturbridge and the Publick House. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Creamer said. “I know that there’s a bit of skepticism of how this is going to go because some of you folks have tried this in the past. I also know however that no selectman has tried this in the past.” He asked those in attendance to consider a handful of events the community could “coalesce” around, like the Harvest Fest or the Pan Mass Challenge.

He tempered his comments by saying not all businesses would benefit from every single event the Co-Operative would hypothetically sponsor. “I think the way we have to look at this is there are going to be trade-offs. There are going to times when your business is going to benefit greatly…there are times when your business may benefit only marginally or not at all,” he said.

During the meeting Creamer also proposed putting together a welcome package that would be passed out to guests when they arrive at a hotel or motel. Merchants were relieved to hear there are no membership fees to be a part of the Co-Operative except for some “sweat equity” as Creamer put it.

The theme of Creamer’s presentation – communication, cooperation, coordination – was repeated throughout the evening as he peppered the audience with hypothetical examples on how to draw tourism dollars.

Among them: Themed event packages that utilize open space; visitor coupons; and a spaghetti supper or concert on the common held the night before the Pan Mass Challenge for the benefit of participants. Pointing to the variety of the festivities held at the end of the Pan Mass Challenge compared to Sturbridge one audience member described the disparity as “embarrassing.”

“By being a part of this co-operative by working together with us, we end up in a situation where everybody gets a bite at the apple,” Creamer said. “I believe that’s what it’s going to take to turn this town around.”

Another meeting is set for 5:45 p.m. June 2 at the main ballroom in the Publick House.