The Board and Committees are made up of volunteers who give their time and talents to help make a positive impact on the Downtown.
If you have any questions, or concerns, or would like to get involved, please reach out to any of the Board members.
Downtown Committees
Development Board and Operations Committee is responsible for short-term and long-term planning as well as developing and following the vision and mission. This Board will assist the Director of Downtown Revitalization with maintaining full Main Street Status.
Business Enhancement involves strengthening the existing economic base of the downtown while diversifying it. Business enhancement activities include helping existing downtown businesses, recruiting new businesses, providing a balanced mix, converting unused space into productive property, and sharpening the competitiveness of downtown merchants.
Design involves improving the downtown’s image by improving its physical appearance – not just the appearance of buildings, but also of street lights, window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, streetscapes, landscaping, promotional materials, and all other elements that convey a visual message about what the downtown is and what it has to offer.
Marketing involves marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, tourists, and others. Effective promotion creates a positive image of the downtown through retail promotional activity and special events utilizing the downtown as a stage area of community activities.
Merchants - this is not part of one of the Heritage Ohio 4 points but an extremely important group for Downtown Tiffin. This is open to any brick & mortar business owner in Downtown Tiffin.
Development Board
Development Board and Operations Committee Accomplishments
Establish downtown goals and direction annually
Plan annual fundraising events: St. Paddy’s Day 5 and downtown Tiffin banner sales
Annual Main Street Trip: visiting another Ohio Main Street community each year to bring back best practices and new ideas to continue to enhance Downtown Tiffin.
Plan the annual Main Street Celebration & Summit to celebrate the successes downtown each year and present the annual Downtown Tiffin Awards.
Prepare the awards submissions to Heritage Ohio to continue to get Downtown Tiffin recognized at the state level for the great work going on locally.
Development Board and Operations Committee Scope
Downtown Celebration & Summit
Annual State Awards
5K Fundraiser
Recommendations from Committees to City/County
Annual Accreditation
Development Board Members
Greg Dell, chair
Vickie Wilkins, vice-chair
Marisa Stephens
Molly Armstrong
Dustin Ritchie
Sam Smith
Bryan Smith
Dave Spridgeon
Kit Tiell
Dale Depew
Josh Randell
Brian Perrine
Nevin Martin
Business Enhancement Committee
Business Enhancement Accomplishments
Business outreach called INSIGHT - each year the committee members reach out to all downtown businesses to see how they are doing, if they are aware of incentives, if they are receiving the Downtown Digest (monthly e-newsletter), and determine if we can do anything to assist them.
The Student Discount Cards are prepared by this committee to encourage college students to shop downtown
Trivia Nights in Downtown Tiffin is an initiative that this committee manages each month. It takes place monthly on Third Thursday in a different location to get community members into different shops and restaurants to create awareness.
DORA was an initiative that this committee put together. They worked on the details, application, and final information for the City of Tiffin.
Food Truck policy recommendations were put together in this committee and the City of Tiffin implemented based on those recommendations.
Recruitment Survey
Merchant Education during monthly merchant meetings including: tax tips, social media tips, etc.
Business Enhancement Scope
INSIGHT visits
Business Recruitment
Trivia Nights Downtown
Discount Cards
Recruitment Packets
Recruitment Survey
Merchant Education
Business Enhancement Committee Members
Molly Depew, Chair - Tiffin City Schools
Dale Depew - Seneca News Daily
Bill Jones - Re/Max
Shane Parendo - Tiffin University
Joe Steinmetz - Sarka Sheetmetal
Kit Tiell - Tiell Financial
Lindsay Rellinger
Allison Kelly
Sean Durocher
Danielle Park
Lori Wozniak-Cole
Sam Smith
Dennis Armstrong
Rachel Griffith
Jen Burns
Design Committee
Design Accomplishments
Downtown Wayfinding and parking signage
Completed the Clouse-Kirian Leadership Park project in conjunction with Leadership Seneca County
Cherry Alley renovation project
Art Policy recommendations to the City of Tiffin
Window Mural for vacant property at 33 South Washington Street
Planning downtown Clean-ups/Litter League
Acquiring downtown Bike racks, picnic tables, and planters through grants
Design Scope
Alley Investigation: Court Street early investigation with stakeholders
Art Policy recommendations
Continue the Facade Program
Downtown-Cleanups/ Litter League
Priority List of Projects (e.g., parking lot design, car charging stations, lighting, bikeshare investigation, streetscape items)
Streetscaping
Zoning Code
Public Arts Policy
Parking Lot Lighting & Design
Entryway into Downtown (investigate)
Wayfinding Updates
Design Committee Members
Dustin Ritchie, Chair - Magnificent Maid
T.J. Mckee, vice-chair - Opus Management
Brian Perrine - Clouse Electric
Michael Work - RCM Architects
Zack Allen - Sarka
Tony Consolo - ABR/ DTS
Mike Pinkston
Natalie Wertz
Erin Snook
Mitch Stearns
Weston Reinbolt
Cheyane Thacker
Charlie Palmer
Leigh Alvarado
Christy Wiser - City Tree Commission
Marketing Committee
Marketing Accomplishments
Downtown Events:
Third Thursday’s focused on bringing people into downtown on a regular basis to learn what we have to offer (human nature - you don’t go to unfamiliar places) and encourage them to come back and support our small businesses. 2023 Third Thursday includes: Artist Stroll, Fete de la Musique, Barking Lot Party, Christmas in July, Taste of Downtown Tiffin, SCYP Pizza Party, and Downtown Trick or Treat/ Pumpkin Drop, Sip & Shop/Holiday Window Reveal.
Kris Kringle Markt
Promote Retailer events: We also highlight live music, Farmers Markets, and other events that the merchant business add to Downtown Tiffin.
Downtown Tiffin Facebook page where we promote downtown events, projects, and businesses
Maintain downtowntiffinevents.com and track major events for the year (printed event rack cards or QR code stickers)
Update downtown maps and kiosks annually
Create social media and radio commercials to promote downtown as a whole.
Marketing Scope 2023
Welcome Binder
Education of Main Street to Community: Informational/ welcome packet
Video Advertising: 2023 Downtown Tiffin 3rd Thursdays
Digital Marketing
Social Media
Marketing Budget
Events - Raise Funding
Rack Cards, Maps & Posters
Outdoor Advertising
Radio Advertising
Third Thursday Planning/Event Coordination with Retailers
Marketing Committee Members
Marisa Stephens - Chair, Destination SC
Becca Kielbasa - Tiffin University
Mary Lewis - Retired
Sam Smith - Reineke Dealerships
Jeff Snavley, Community Member
Dave Spridgeon - Owner Renaissance & The Deli Cafe
Kayleigh Tschanen - Tiffin-Seneca Library
Vickie Wilkins - Tiffin University
Chris Beidelschies
Susan Wilkinson
Erin Snook
Merchant Meetings
Downtown Merchants meet on a monthly basis. This is an opportunity for downtown businesses to get together and plan the best ways to support each other and the downtown business community as a whole. They plan events that support each other and create business collaborations. It is also a good way to stay in touch with the main downtown activities through TSEP and the Main Street program (downtown revitalization), collaborate with the downtown Marketing Committee (they manage the Downtown Tiffin Facebook page, radio and social media commercials, provide support of downtown events when needed, put together 3rd Thursday’s, and more), hear updates from the Chamber of Commerce and more.
