From the Havre de Grace Alliance:
The Havre de Grace (HdG) Alliance Inc. which was created last November 2015 to replace and extend the former Havre de Grace Main Street Inc. in organizational Structure, Mission and Goals announces the official launch of the new HdG Alliance Inc. organization and the founding Board of Directors. The new non-profit organization will extend the former HdG Main Street Inc. organization’s mission of economic development and revitalization beyond the downtown district to the entire city and to work in helping revitalize and grow the entire city through cooperation and collaboration among the City and all the City’s many non-profits and key stakeholders in the various business and planning segments within the city.
The establishment of the HdG Alliance Inc. reflects a new approach to economic development that takes into account the unique challenges that small towns and cities face in these times and this economy. The HdG Alliance Inc. will be governed by an organizational Board of Directors to be comprised of business leaders from all industry and planning segments in the city, starting with the Founding Board that met at the kick off meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2016.
The Founding Board of Directors of the HdG Alliance, by respective business/planning segment thus far includes:
Restaurant/Hospitality Segment Sherifa Clarke (Laurrapin Grill)
Marina Segment Allen Fair (Marina at Heron Harbor)
Mary Lynn Snyder (Marina at Heron Habor)
Real Estate Segment Ed Garono (Broker: RE/MAX-Bel Air and Building Owner in Downtown HDG)
Museum Segment Johnny Boker (Maritime Museum)
Carol McGowan (Lockhouse Museum)
Arts/Entertainment Segment Bill Price (Opera House Foundation)
Bill Watson (Public Arts and Tourism Board)
Medical Segment Robin Luxom (University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health Systems)
Retail Segment Christy Silverstein (Joseph’s Dept. Store)
Joseph Smith (Glyph)
HDG Economic Development Board Chris Stathes (EDAB)
HDG Economic Development Dept. Adrean Troy (Director)
HDG City Council Steve Gamatoria (Council President)
HDG Historic Preservation Commission Ron Browning (Chair)
Currently, the Board includes two ex-officio members (Adrean Troy and Steve Gamatoria). Additional Founding Board Members will be added to the Board, by business/planning segment, as the organization proceeds ahead.
At the Thursday, March 31 kick off Board Meeting, Joe Smith, Acting President for the HdG Alliance and Pam Spelker, HdG Alliance Executive Director gave a review of the intended Mission, Goals and Status of the new non-profit organization as well as reviewed all the proposed organization documents needed for official organization implementation. ‘Temporary’ Board Officers were elected (for 2 additional Board Meetings) till the Board nominates and elects the official/final Officers. The Temporary Board Officers are:
Joe Smith – Acting President
Christy Silverstein – Acting Vice President
Mary Lnn Synder – Acting Treasurer/Secretary
Mayor Bill Martin briefly attended the Kick- Off Board Meeting and gave his thoughts about the new organization as well as his support for the new Alliance. He expressed his appreciation and thanks to all the founding Board Members for their commitment to the Mission and Goals of the new organization. He stated that Economic Development is very important to the city and the Mission and Goals of the new HdG Alliance is right on track to help the city at this time. He believes the board member delegation is a great representation of the many different segments that constitute the entire city and believes the fabric of representation will truly help the city in its economic development sustainable growth and revitalization.
The new Alliance will begin by focusing on providing business, marketing and tourism information, data and strategic level suggestions for the entire city that fosters collaborative solutions to help empower the city to revitalize and build and/or continue an economically vibrant, safe and clean city for the entire community. The new Alliance has filed to be a 501(c)(3) organization and as such will be able to apply for various grant funding to help secure various economic development and tourism studies and projects for the business community that will compliment work being done by the city or other non-profit organizations relative to the business community.
Initial funding for the Alliance is supported from a $100,000 Tourism Related Activities (TARC) Grant awarded by Harford County with money coming from lodging tax revenues. The Alliance is in the process of applying for new grant funding from the 2017 TARC Grant Program and will seek other grant opportunities along with seeking contributions and through fundraising activities for the Alliance and its mission going forward.
“The launch of the new HdG Alliance Inc. at this time is a great step in helping the city move forward with economic growth and revitalization throughout the entire city” said Acting President, Joe Smith. Joe also stated, “I am honored to be part of the strong leadership team that constitutes the founding Board of Directors. Helping the city become a vibrant city on many fronts is a priority that I expect this new Alliance will treat with the utmost diligence and due care.”
“I am excited to be a part of the new Havre de Grace Alliance. Business and City Leaders working collaboratively to improve and enhance our city together is the beginning of great works!” added Christy Silverstein, Acting Vice President.
“Looking forward to working with this great group of community leaders to capitalize on the many great assets this city has to offer. The water, the history and the location are a winning combination for the businesses, residents and visitors” saidBoard Member, Ed Gorono.
The City of Havre de Grace is a local and regional treasure for residents and tourists alike and truly a crown jewel along the Chesapeake. We believe that together, the HdG Alliance Inc. in its new role will help the city and all the other city non-profit organizations continue to build a stronger and more vibrant city that is sustainable and offers charm along with all its other beautiful assets. We are extremely excited about the formation of the new HdG Alliance Inc. and the great possibilities for building a more wonderful and vibrant city and tourist destination that everyone will enjoy.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Pam Spelker at 410-939-1811 or by email at executivedirector@havredgreacealliance.org.
Prediction. After five years of wasting taxpayers’ money, the alliance will disband and exist no more having accomplished nothing. The cast of characters is the same old people that ran the failed Main Street organization.
Great to see Ed Garono as a member of the new Havre de Grace Alliance. Both he and his wife, Karen, are committed to helping make Havre de Grace become everything it’s promised to be.
Must be a payday in the works for some of these people to join the group.