The Levelland Main Street Program wrapped up a busy 2023 while also establishing 25 years of service.
Main Street Director Tania Moody provided a year-endsummary with several pieces of statistical information provided to give a snapshot of the years progress.
A total of 70 businesses have made their way into the downtown area. Currently, there are 21 retail businesses, one arts, entertainment business, two rental venues, one manufacturing business, eight government businesses, 28 service businesses, four fitness, dance businesses, three barber, salon businesses and two churches.
Investments for 2023 include buildings sole, new construction and renovations. There were a total of 30 projects in the area. Total expenditures totaled $5,969,588.79. Private expenditures totaled $5,405,780 and public or private partnerships totaled $49,600. Public expenditures totaled $514,208.79.
Grants and donations reach $140,668.56. Those include TMobile for $50,000; Levelland Community Development Committee for $45,000; Hockley County Endowment for $2,500; Smith Auto for $5,000; Edward Jones for $2,500; Little Dribblers for $2,500; Sip and Swirl for $29,668.56; Marigolds for $3,500 (Christmas Lights).
The Hockley County Endowment is currently at $38,601.67. The current Main Street Budget invested in, for downtown is at $116,899. Volunteer hours totaled 650 with an estimated value of $19,500.
One of the bigger projects for the Main Street Program has been their mosaic handrails. Currently, there are 90 in place in the surrounding downtown area. Additionally, 44 planters have been placed around the area.
Moody explained that the board felt last years events went extremely well. However, the group is looking to transition out of the event business to focus on more of their long-term goals.
The group is looking to form partnerships with various community organizations and support them with events those entities might be wanting to host.
“It would allow us to help those organizations get their name out to the public more and raise money for the organization,” said Moody. “It may be as simple as giving back to the community, but for us it is how Main Street support that but not take point on the event.”
In turn, the program is trying to pull back on the events they hold especially when they survey the downtown businesses and merchants who say they did not necessarily benefit from those events.
“While that is not the only reason we do events, there is quality of life events that stand alone that are simply meant to get community members downtown to enjoy themselves and have a great time,” explained Moody. “At the same time, we hope that those events spin off and community members notice the various businesses in the downtown area.”
The hope for the group is to hold an event that serves multiple functions.
For 2024, Food Truck Thursday’s will be making its return in March. The event is held every third Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A ribbon cutting for the new mosaic planters will be on-site and ready to be planted for the four entities who sponsored those individual planters. The planters will be placed on the center of each side of the square on April 7 at 10 a.m.
May 4 is slated for the community planting day the program holds every year. Additionally, preservation activities are also planned for the month of May.
Sip & Swirl is planned for June 19 while Ladies Night Out is November 14. Trunk or Treat will be November 31. Rounding out the year, Festival of Lights Christmas on the Square will be held December 5.
Moody explained those events listed are the only ones that have been solidified at this point in time.
“We are making some changes as far as the Summer events go,” explained Moody.
The Main Street Board’s primary objective this year is attracting food and beverage businesses to the downtown area.
“We are trying to bring food and beverage entities downtown to help supplement what we already have,” said Moody. “People do not stay downtown and continue to shop unless they have somewhere they can eat or take a break. People do not want to shop non stop. They would like to take a break in between their shopping.”
This year, the group will be looking for restaurants. Moody explained that a variety would be nice such as cultural restaurants, a bakery, coffee shop, winery or craft brewery or a brick oven pizza place.
Moody explained that the board does not want to drive businesses away from the possibility of bringing their endeavors to the downtown area; however, the vacancies are becoming slimmer in the downtown area and offering food or beverage businesses would aid in supplementing what variety of businesses are already in place.