By Bonnie Culverhouse
Sometimes to be successful, it’s as important to know what you don’t know as it is what you do know.
City of Minden Economic Development Director Sarah Overall knows that all too well in her new role.
“I have been to two different courses and was the only person north of Alexandria that’s been to them,” Overall said. “But they’d all heard of Minden, so that’s a good thing.”
In order to learn her job, the City of Minden is partnering with Birmingham, Ala.-based Retail Strategies to help.
“They approached us,” said Mayor Nick Cox. “The city worked with them when Gardner was mayor. Tourism worked with them. They will do as much or as little as you want them to.”
They identify what you need and teach you the steps, he added.
“They will teach us how to attract retail business and what we can actually afford in this area,” Overall said. “Everybody has an opinion on what needs to come. But do we have the workforce to support it and do we have the consumer support?”
Retail Strategies will help with data to show on what the city should focus.
“They will narrow it down to who’s coming to Minden, what are they spending money on and leakage — what’s leaving the parish,” she said. “It’s not as simple as we can support a particular chain.
“Most retail merchants have strategic plans for the next two to three years, and if Minden was in it, we would know about it,” she continued. “It’s a matter of getting ready and partnering with Retail Strategies to get all the tools we need so we can talk to these companies and get on their radars.”
Down the road, Overall said she would like to see Minden have districts where the focus would be on more than just downtown.
“We already have the historic district downtown” she said. “Homer Road might be named a commercial district where we would install similar street lights but different style – out by interstate, too– Industrial Drive.”
But all these things take time.
“The general public hears economic development, they think they should see results quickly, that’s just our nature in today’s society. Instant gratification,” said Overall. “It is a slow process, years. It doesn’t happen in months or overnight, it’s quite a while. The public isn’t going to see the results for a while. There are things on the backend happening.”
Some of those things include an umbrella alley downtown.
“Those are cables on a pulley system that cross an alley with umbrellas hanging on them,” she explained. “They are colorful and offer shade, colorful lights and can be changed out for seasons.”
Below the umbrellas may be picnic tables and outdoor seating.
Another downtown change may be hanging baskets.
“Some of the poles – not all of them – will be changed out for stronger poles that will support the baskets,” she said. “They will be on a self-watering system. All these things make our downtown more appealing.”