Published: January 12, 2009 11:15 pm      

His closed office does not mean work isn’t being done

Main Street director hustles to boost downtown

ASHLAND — It is 1:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and the office of Ashland Main Street — in the former home of Pollack’s Jewelers in the Mayo Arcade — is closed.

That doesn’t mean the work of the non-profit organization created to promote downtown Ashland is not continuing. Just the opposite, in fact, said Danny Craig.

Craig is the executive director and entire staff of the local Main Street office and, because of that, it is impossible for him to both do his job and maintain regular office hours.

Craig said he usually is in the office between 20 and 25 hours a week, but when he is not there, he is out meeting with downtown businesses, talking to representatives of perspective businesses or otherwise promoting downtown.

“When I am out meeting with businesses or working on downtown projects, I have no choice but to close the office;” Craig said. “As a staff of one, I can’t sit in the office all day and still do my job.”

Part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Ashland Main Street is primarily funded through dues paid by local businesses and non-profit organizations.

“Sometimes there is grant money available,” Craig said. “There isn’t right now because of the national economy, but there has been in the past and we hope there will be in the future.”

Craig works closely with Jim Pergerson, president of the Ashland Alliance, and Chris Pullem, the city of Ashland’s economic development director, in both helping existing businesses and recruiting new ones. The difference is that the scope of Pergerson’s and Pullem’s work is broader than his.

“Their job is to promote business throughout the area,” Craig said. “My job is to promote businesses in downtown Ashland.”

One aspect of that job is preserving and restoring historic downtown buildings.

“We are always looking for new ways to encourage property owners to improve the beautiful old buildings downtown,” Craig said.

Main Street also sponsors concerts on Judd Plaza during the summer months and the monthly First Friday activities downtown.

“I am always looking for new ways to get people to come downtown,” Craig said. “I see that as one of my main jobs.”

And while the economy has made raising the funds to operate “a bit tough,” Craig said Main Street is not going away. He is out there working for downtown Ashland — even if the Main Street office is closed.

JOHN CANNON can be reached at jcannon@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2649.