Topic 3: Economic Development and Tourism

Scenario 3-1:

One sunny summer Saturday afternoon you are walking down German Street and you are stopped by a group of people visiting town from DC for the weekend. They ask about things to do in town during their visit. What would be the top three recommendations you would give them (assuming no special events were taking place). How well do you think the Town markets itself to tourists? Is it telling the right story to bring them here? Who is the typical tourist to Shepherdstown, and has that changed in recent years? Who should tourism marketing and promotions be aimed at, and where do they live?

Places to send tourists included:
- Rumsey Monument
- The Potomac river
- The tobacco warehouse
- Visitors center
- Local restaurants
- C&O Canal
Comments on marketing included:
- A need to focus marketing on the downtown area
- Focus marketing on free attractions
- Highlight Civil War history
- Publish local wayfinding maps with attractions
- Market local restaurants
Other comments included:
- Don’t want to be like Harpers Ferry
- Provide better access between the town and the C&O towpath
- Develop the “music scene”
- Improve the boat ramp area
- Improve the visitors center

Scenario 3-2:

A relocation consultant is visiting town this week to do research to advise their client on whether to move their small information technology services firm to Shepherdstown. The Town asks you to help make the pitch to the consultant about why they should choose Shepherdstown over other communities in the region. How would you make your pitch and what would be the top sell-ing point? Assuming that the consultant made their recommendation to their client to relocate to Shepherdstown, what would have been the deciding factors in that decision? Conversely, assuming that the consultant advised his client to instead choose Charles Town or Martinsburg, what would have made that a better option for their client?

Selling points of the town included:
- High education levels
- Easy access to major NE cities
- Good support among small businesses
- Low crime
- Good community vibe – small town
- Reasonably priced housing
- Workers could live close to the office – short commutes
- Good quality of life
- Great place to live
- Shepherd University
- Any company coming would be a “big fish in a little pond”
- Access to MARC
If another nearby community was chosen, reasons listed included:
- Lower rents
- Better access to the interstate
- Offering a better economic incentive package
A critical deciding factor that was identified was the presence or absence of high speed telecomm infra-structure

Scenario 3-3:

Tired of long commutes to a suburban DC office park every day, you decide it’s time for a change of pace. A recent inheritance has given you the ability to make a change in your life, and you have always wanted to own a business in downtown Shepherdstown. While you are financially secure to take this on, you know it will have to be profitable within a year, or it is back to the long drives and the boring desk job. What type of business would you open? Who would be your target market? What impediments do you see that could stand in the way of your business succeeding? What could the town do to help ease the path to success and help you and your fellow business owners grow your businesses?

Potential business opportunities that were identified included:
- Veterinary clinic
- Brewery – associated with the river?
- Anything offering staples – groceries etc.
- Organic / specialty food stores
- Local agriculture coop
- Business to business support services
- Antique stores
- Art galleries
Ideal target markets identified included:
- Students
- Tourists
- Young families
Potential impediments include:
- High rents
- Limited parking
- Antiquated zoning
- Limited market size
Ways the town could help pave a path to success included:
- Working to lower rents
- Promoting business through social media
- Ensure that businesses have the flexibility need-ed to survive
- Promote local festivals
- Help to develop partnerships
- Improve parking

Scenario 3-4:

You are standing behind the cash register at your downtown business when a tourist comes through the door frantically waving a dollar bill above her head. “Quick, I need change for the parking meter – I see them coming down the street right now!” she exclaims. Knowing the drill, you hand over 4 quarters and wish her luck, hoping that she and her friends will come back to buy something from you. Tired of constantly making change, and wondering once again if you’ve lost a sale because a meter was running short on time, you start thinking about parking management in Shepherdstown (for the third time this week). You decide to write down a plan to improve how on-street parking is managed? What are your top recommendations for the town to better manage its on- street parking? How will your ideas improve the visitor experience and create more economic opportunities? Assuming that Shepherd University builds a new parking deck close to downtown, how would that influence the parking situation, and your recommendations for parking management?

Ideas for better managing parking included:
- Developing a pedestrian mall downtown
- Eliminating parking meters
- Implementing a shuttle for Shepherd Uni-versity
- Build a parking garage on campus
  Free or lower cost parking downtown
- Build a parking structure adjacent to downtown
- Free 30 minute parking
- Pay by phone system for meters
- Parking payment kiosks
  Allow merchants to purchase and resell parking passes
- Use vacant lots downtown for parking –privately owned but town maintained
- Tiered fines for meter violations – start low for tourists – go high for repeat violations