Technical Assistance Menu of Services

Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) technical assistance programs serve as a platform through which local communities are able to harness and leverage financial investment in their downtowns. DCI will design a technical assistance visit and carefully select team of downtown revitalization professionals to best assess the unique opportunities and challenges that are facing your community. The below menu of services is only a sample of the services that our technical assistance teams have provided in the past.

Types of Service

Type of Service	Logistics	Results
Downtown Assessment Team Visit: DCI offers one and three-day technical assistance visits to communities involved in downtown revitalization. DCI uses the structure provided by the Main Street Four Point Approach as the basis for identifying and delivering services.	1-3 days on-site; $3000-$10,000 (plus team expenses, travel, lodging, and per diem)	To assist communities, DCI identifies a team of specialists with skills to address community needs. The team meets with all downtown stakeholders, holds a public presentation of initial recommendations, completes a narrative report of recommendations, and provides a detailed action matrix to walk the community through the implementation process. Specific impacts: Increased communication among downtown groups; Identifying areas for collaboration; Creation of a "to-do” list for downtown action; Identification of short and long-term projects; Determining underutilized community assets; Accessing/sampling consultant services for a fraction of the cost.
On-Site Panel Discussions: For communities facing a new issue or question in the community, there is often a lack of information or experience to assist the community members in making a decision based on facts.	Half to full day on-site; $1500-$3000 (plus team expenses, travel, lodging, and per diem)	DCI’s On-site Panel Discussions allow the community to listen and ask questions of a panel of community leaders, business owners, taxing district representatives, or other group from a town that has previously faced this issue. On-Site Discussions have proven useful in gaining consensus for moving forward with planning and financing mechanisms.
Facilitated Discussions: As the economy has tightened, more and more communities are utilizing DCI’s facilitated discussions to reduce duplication of services and create collaboration and transparent processes for the use of local resources by non-profit organizations and committees.	Half to full day on-site; $1500-$3000 (plus team expenses, travel, lodging, and per diem)	A Facilitated discussion can assist communities looking to better use the resources available and streamline services to support local businesses and commercial districts. Facilitated discussion usually include a significant level of community preparation with DCI staff walking community coordinators through the collection of information for a stakeholder list, identification of local resources, engagement of local groups and organizations, and planning for the discussion.
Training of Trainer (TOT) On-Site Visits: Activating local resources through community engagement is the best way to demonstrate that your community is poised for sustainable economic development. TOT services assist you in positioning your community activists to take stronger leadership roles.	Half to full day on-site; $1500-$3000 (plus team expenses, travel, lodging, and per diem)	Community leadership is a concept that often requires cultivation and support. Training of Trainer visits provide downtown stakeholders with talking points, tools, and an approach to developing a specific topic. Community-specific topics are welcome, but interested groups may review the Menu of Technical Assistance below for topic ideas.
Action Plan Implementation Visits: For communities who have received a technical assistance visit, DCI is now offering a follow-up visit to communities who demonstrate a need for continued training and implementation assistance either to implement recommendations, or to build on successes already achieved.	Half to full day on-site; $1500-$3000 (plus team expenses, travel, lodging, and per diem)	Follow up on the initial downtown recommendations, the second round of technical assistance and training provides opportunities for additional planning to adjust and further develop the action plan for continued downtown revitalization and/or to engage leaders with hand-on training for implementation of recommendations. Each community will receive either an action matrix (updated for those communities which already received one) or a presentation with tools to assist with implementation. Tools may include charts, surveys, or matrices to complete with the larger community as well as referred contacts and programs that will provide targeted assistance to the communities’ issues.
Training for Energy Efficiency Tracking and Reduction: With so many new tools and grants available for energy efficiency, it is hard to gauge what will work best for your commercial district and the public and private properties that are housed there.	Communities provide a venue, a coffee break, and equipment for the half-full day public session. Limited number of training.	DCI will coordinate a training to help you devise a plan to monitor, manage, monetize, and market your commercial district energy efficiency initiatives. Communities interested in greening the commercial district and reducing costs of using historic buildings may qualify for training on how to track and reduce energy usage.

Download our Technical Assistance Brochure here.

Sample Menu Topics for Technical Assistance

Management:

Getting Started: Engaging Your Community
District Management Organizations (e.g. Business Improvement Districts Downtown Development Authorities, etc.)
Fundraising and Funding Mechanisms
Board Development & Facilitation Of Board Retreat
Building Effective Public & Private Partnerships
Main Street Program Feasibility
Volunteer Recruitment & Management Work Plans, Visioning & Identity

Marketing:

Marketing and Branding Review
Developing Marketing and Branding Strategies
Review and Critique of Current Event Promotions
Special Event Development
Development of Appropriate Promotional Strategies
Hospitality Training For Hotel And Restaurant Staff
Strategic Event Planning

Design:

Asset Inventory and Assessment
Encouraging Good Design (e.g. Code & Guidelines)
Historic Preservation, Designation, & Certified Local Governments
Streetscape Plan Review
Parking & Traffic Management Strategies
Façade Improvement Programs
Merchandising & Window Displays Windshield Surveys and Historic Property Inventories

Economic Development:

Market Analysis Process and Applications
Developing A Marketing Plan For Downtown
Business Attraction, Retention, and Development Strategies
Creating Market Niche Strategies
Business Mix And Clusters Analysis
Funding Mechanisms For Downtown Revitalization
Feasibility Studies
Creating Economic Incentives
Becoming a Business-Friendly City
Activating Libraries

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