Essentially rendered a political lame duck last month by city council, Sault Ste. Marie's Downtown Association is promising the breakup will be civil and respectful.
As SooToday has previously reported, our city councillors voted on April 7 to disband the business group that since 1976 has managed downtown development using levies collected from its member businesses and property owners.
But the Downtown Association will continue to exist until the city takes over downtown responsibilities at the end of this year.
"Although this decision is disheartening to many in the community, we are committed to being positive, collaborative and constructive during this transition," executive director Nicholas Luck told a Wednesday-night meeting of the Downtown Association's board of directors.
The group has sufficient funding to continue providing some services until year's end, but is no longer seeking new grants and the possibilities for new sponsorships will be limited, the meeting was told.
"On an operational level, we are working with city staff to ensure as many Sault Downtown Association projects as possible can be downloaded into the city," Luck said. "Thank you to all of those in the community that ... advocated for the retention of the almost half-century-old organization that has provided invaluable contributions to Sault Ste. Marie."
One employee, a beautification associate, had already left the organization because of schedule changes.
That worker had been responsible for removing debris and litter, trimming weeds, clearing snow, washing windows and removing graffiti tags.
"The beautification associate duties have been assumed by myself as operations move forward," Luck said.
On the positive side, a new intern supported by a Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. grant, has just started with the Downtown Association.
As marketing and social media coordinator, the new hire has been connecting with many members of the association, collaborating well with our team and committee members," Luck said.
The landlord of the Downtown Association office at 496 Queen St. East made a site visit this month to inspect the premises in preparation for the group's departure.
"He indicated that we will be able to remain in the space for as long as we need to stay," Luck told the meeting.
This spring, the association has been helping Queen Street businesses establish back-door entrances in areas where construction is ongoing.
In other news, self-funded northern Ontario business improvement areas like the Downtown Association are forming a regional association to share data and co-ordinate regional funding to downtowns.