Kylie

Jun 272013
 

A great opportunity to work in a dynamic downtown.

We are now accepting applications for the full-time position (Tuesday – Saturday) for the Salem Main Streets Manager. The Main Streets manager will be responsible for managing all aspects of the downtown revitalization activities utilizing the Main Street Four Point Approach. Applicants should have education and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: event planning, economic development, retailing, marketing, volunteer management and/or small business development. The position requires an entrepreneurial, energetic, well-organized manager with great people skills and the ability to work together with the City, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, businesses and residents as well as the Salem State University Community. Good social media and communication skills are essential.

Please submit resume and cover letter by email to rinus@salem-chamber.org. (No calls please)

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Scope of Work:

Manage all aspects of the downtown Main Streets program. Focal points for the downtown manager are:
• Program and Event Planning: retail events, special events, local shop & dine promotion and image development
• Manage the Salem Main Streets Farmers Market and the October Visitor Booth Volunteer Program
• Economic Development; Business retention, expansion, recruitment and real estate development
• Advocacy, Communication and Education: to create broad based support from the public and private sectors
• Assist in job creation and job retention, especially to benefit low and moderate income persons
• Preserve and enhance the commercial business district; Preserve historic commercial architecture and promote good design
• Liaison with local government and other (downtown) organizations
• Provide technical assistance to businesses

Job Responsibilities include:
• Under the guidance of the City of Salem and the Salem Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, the Salem Main Streets manager is responsible for the development, execution and documentation of the Main Street Program. He/she coordinates all activities and committees of the Main Street Program and is the principal on-site staff person.
• Works with the Salem Chamber of Commerce Director, City of Salem, Steering Committee and standing committees to develop annual work plan
• Development and implementation of the annual budget; development and implementation of funding plan
• Manages all administrative aspects: maintains official documentation for organization and rosters of all committees and their activities; assists in developing and monitoring budgets; prepares monthly and quarterly reports that include committee reports and information on job creation and economic development.
• Assists in recruiting, training and supervising volunteer work force, interns and coop students. Responsible for committee assignments and Steering Committee development and management.
• Provides information, referral, and encouragement for those involved in the downtown’s events, marketing, business recruitment, parking management, beautification, etc.
• Develops and conducts public awareness and educational programs.
• Works on business recruitment and retention; Provides information, technical assistance and support to new retailers locating in the district.
• Provides information and referral services regarding any of the program content areas to individual tenants or property owners desiring assistance.
• Helps build and maintain strong working relationships with appropriate public agencies at the local, regional, state, and national levels; Participates in appropriate community organizations.

Job Requirements
• Ability to develop, plan, and coordinate project and program activities
• Work independently as well as in a team environment
• Team player and leader, ability to build consensus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Marketing skills and organizational skills including staging of promotional events
• Good knowledge of downtown public and private issues
• Expertise in volunteer management
• Grant writing experience a plus
• Community and economic development knowledge
• Retail experience / real estate experience a plus
• Computer literacy (windows office, social media, web design)

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 Posted by at 10:14 am
Jun 242013
 

On behalf of the Salem Arts Festival committee we’d like to extend our appreciation to everyone that made the 5th Annual Festival a huge success! It was a wonderful weekend for all who attended. Maybe you enjoyed some of the fabulous food during our Old Town Hall opening reception donated by 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Adriatic Restaurant & Bar, Brodie’s Seaport Cafe, Capt’s Waterfront Grill and Pub, Flying Saucer Pizza Company, Gulu-Gulu Café, Naumkeag Ordinary, Rockafellas and Victoria Station. Perhaps you strolled through Old Town Hall and were engaged by the Juried Art Show. Or maybe you tried your hand at hoop-dancing with Lindsey “Siren of the Circle” Hollett while listening to Machine 475 in the upstairs Hall. Whatever your experience and however you participated, we hope you had a great time!

As you know, the activities and entertainment continued throughout the weekend with music and entertainment on both Derby Square and Museum Place Fountain Stage. We were delighted to see young and old creating art in the Community Art Space Room within the Museum Place Mall, and people contributing to a group painting Sunday at the Salem Collective of Artists and Musicians space on Artist Row.

Organized by Salem Main Streets, the festival is collaboration between Salem Main Streets, the Salem Arts Association, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Collective of Artist and Musicians, The City of Salem and the Center for Creative and Performing Arts- Salem State University. Additionally this event was supported in part by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Eastern Bank, Salem State University and the Peabody Essex Museum.

The Salem Arts Festival comes to fruition by a hardworking all-volunteer Festival committee who dedicate their time throughout the year planning this event. The Salem Arts Festival would also like to thank all their wonderful volunteers who helped make the weekend a success, and our supporters and most importantly the artists and performers who donated their time and talent to make this event possible. We look forward to seeing everyone next year for the sixth annual Salem Arts Festival on June 6, 7 and 8th of 2014!

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 Posted by at 11:25 am
Feb 142013
 

Salem So Sweet was Salem snowed-in when the fifth largest snowfall in known history dropped more than two feet of snow in the bewitching seaport on February 8. The blizzard caused the event to be rescheduled for this weekend.

The revised schedule is as follows:

Chocolate and Wine Tasting
Friday, February 15, 2013, 6:30 PM
Colonial Hall at Rockafellas, 231 Essex Street, Salem

This event, which benefits the Salem Chamber of Commerce and Salem Main Streets, features wine and chocolate samplings from premier Salem restaurants, stores and sweet shops. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the Salem Chamber of Commerce, 265 Essex Street, Salem, or over the phone at (978) 744-0004.

Ice Sculptures Installation
Saturday, February 16 & Sunday, February 17
Around Salem

More than 16 large ice sculptures will be installed around downtown, and on display by 10:00 AM on Saturday. Ice sculptures will include an engagement ring, the Taj Mahal, The Salem State University Viking, an octopus, a Valentine Teddy, and others. Visit Salem-Chamber.org for a map of ice sculpture locations.

Golden Ticket Raffle
February 11 – February 17

Many of Salem’s downtown restaurants and retailers will be offering chocolate samplings and great discounts through February 17. Golden Ticket Raffles can be picked up at participating businesses (no purchase necessary) and validated for a chance to enter a drawing for a Salem So Sweet Gift Basket.

Salem So Sweet is presented by The Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Main Streets, and local retailers, restaurants and businesses.

Visit Salem.org for a complete listing of Salem So Sweet events.

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 Posted by at 2:08 pm
Feb 052013
 

A decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures and Valentine’s Day shopping returns for its 11th year. Kicking off with a Chocolate and Wine Tasting on Friday, February 8th, the week-long festival will feature chocolate tastings, shopping promotions, chocolate-infused menus at local restaurants, and the annual Golden Ticket drawing for a fabulous Salem So Sweet gift basket.

The luscious Chocolate and Wine tasting event will be held Friday 6:30-8:30pm at Colonial Hall at Rockafellas, a location that is fully-accessibly, and will feature wine and chocolate samplings from premier Salem restaurants, stores and sweet shops. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at the Salem Chamber of Commerce, 265 Essex Street Suite 101. This event is the highlight of the season and is anticipated to sell-out.

More than 16 large ice sculptures will be installed around downtown Salem on February 9, and restaurants and retailers will be offering chocolate samplings and great discounts throughout the weekend, with some promotions continuing until February 14th. Ice sculptures will include an engagement ring, the Taj Mahal, The Salem State University logo, an octopus, a Valentine Teddy, and others.

The Salem Trolley will offer trolley rides around the festival route, weather permitting, on February 9 & 10 from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Adult rides will cost $1, and children are free. Pick up locations include the Salem Visitor Center, Pickering Wharf and Washington Street near Eastern Bank.

Golden Tickets will be available for a chance to win a Salem’s So Sweet Gift Basket. Pick up your Golden Ticket at participating businesses or the Salem Chamber of Commerce, and have it validated at participating businesses (no purchase necessary). Validated Golden Tickets can be returned for entry into a drawing for a Salem’s So Sweet gift basket which features many fine items from area retailers.

With more than 60 places to eat downtown Salem is the perfect place to plan a romantic dinner or casual lunch. In celebration of the chocolate weekend, many of Salem’s finest restaurants will feature special chocolate offerings on their menus, including desserts, cocktails, and inventive sauces. Participating Salem retailers will offer in-store promotions, innovative displays and items geared toward chocolate and Valentine’s Day ranging from a chocolate fondue fountain to Valentine inspired dog treats.

Salem So Sweet is presented by The Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Main Streets, and local retailers, restaurants and businesses. For more events and details about the festival visit Salem-Chamber.org.

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 Posted by at 6:42 pm
Dec 152012
 

Happy Holidays from Salem Main Streets Director, Jennifer Bell

Thank you to the many volunteers and members of the Salem Community who have been so supportive of the Salem Main Streets program and my efforts for the last five plus years. Together we took a dormant Main Streets program and seasonal town and developed thriving programs which are enjoyed by thousands; the Salem Farmers’ Market, Salem Arts Festival,Visitor Ambassador Program in October, Salem First Fridays and more. Salem has become the Dining Destination on the North Shore and over 80 new businesses have opened in the downtown in those five years. Main Streets took over the management of the Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival, Salem’s Ice Scream Bowl, Mayor’s Night Out, Holiday Happenings and we supported the efforts of new events such as the Salem Film Festival, Salem Literary Festival, Mass Poetry Festival, and Living Green and Renewable Energy Fair which have grown into popular events. We started the reusable tote bag program “In Salem, Green is the New Black” and helped make Salem a greener city with the support of the Downtown Business community.

These programs were only possible through thousands of hours of volunteer time each year donated to Salem Main Streets by hundreds of volunteers and support by the City of Salem, and community partners like the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Salem should be proud of the spirit of volunteerism and can do attitude that prevails. No project is too big, too new to begin. Salem is a unique place which celebrates its history while embracing the present and looking towards the future.

My family and I have enjoyed living in Salem and being able to contribute to the Salem Community. Thank you to the many people who have shared their time and talents to make a difference especially: Matt Caruso, Gary Gill, Judy Kearney, Jeanne Scott, Ben Bouchard, Anthony Scialis, Wendy Davidson, Tom Daniel, Ellen Talkowsky, Ron Malionek, Ann Massey, Cheryl Michaels, Marlene Faust, Alex Southerland, Beth Paquin, Kristin Rogers, Jim Vaughey, Aaron Martin, Christian Haselgrove, Cheryl Michaels, Kelly O’Connor, Dan Faust, Dan Rogers, Gina Flynn, Phil Dwight, Stacey Pappas and too many others to name. 

I wish you all success and great happiness!

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