MainStreet’s business assistance services are broken into four general subcategories and are provided by independently contracted private sector business consultants.
§ Informational Liaison
§ Construction Ombudsman
§ Direct Consulting
§ Additional Services & Resources
Informational Liaison
MainStreet liaisons disseminate initial project information and introductory program materials directly to the businesses and return with key information updates while the project is under design. The designated liaison also updates client information for the MainStreet database in order to ensure receipt of future project mailings, e-mail blasts, etc.
Construction Ombudsman
During project construction, the ombudsman is the businesses’ conduit to help get the most current construction information and resolve construction-related issues that may affect day-to-day businesses. The ombudsman visits businesses in the primary area regularly and also provides project schedules, traffic control plans and other pieces of helpful information.
Businesses may call the MainStreet hotline anytime if they have questions or emergences.
Direct Business Consulting
Based on MainStreet’s continual business feedback, Direct Business Consulting is one of the most important services offered to the businesses. Direct consulting services help mitigate potential construction impacts to the businesses’ bottom line and are designed to improve the overall health of the business help beyond the construction itself. MainStreet uses highly skilled professional business consultants to guide the business to develop unique solutions. The MainStreet process includes:
§ Intake
o Review the consulting process and set clear expectations
o Sign client commitment and confidentiality agreement
§ Business Assessment
o Perform business health assessment in eight primary areas (Business Planning, Financial Controls, Marketing/Advertising, Sales Management, Customer Service, Organization Controls, Personnel Development, Operations/Quality Control)
o Analyze, identify and prioritize needs
§ Recommendation Report
§ Tangible Deliverable(s)
o Implementation begins
§ Closure
§ Solicit feedback
Direct consulting has been used by hundreds of businesses on RTA projects and typically made a significant difference for them. Businesses have expressed satisfaction with MainStreet receiving a 99.5% feedback satisfaction rating. MainStreet estimates that as many as 1,000 businesses will use the direct consulting services over the life of the RTA Plan.
Additional Services & Resources
MainStreet provides additional services and resources to businesses at no charge:
§ Construction Readiness Workshops before construction of the project. This workshop will have the latest project information along with tips, materials and direct experience that can be useful in preparing the business, employees, clients and vendors for the upcoming improvement project. These "readiness" planning sessions also are made available privately at the business as well, along with assistance in building a personalized readiness strategy.
§ Small Business Success Workshops focus on specific areas of best practices for businesses such as financial, marketing, operational, entrepreneurial, etc. MainStreet’s last workshop was "Leave No Stone Unturned - Business Practices to Save Money and Generate Cash Flow!"
§ Personalized construction access maps for the businesses Web site, direct mail, ads, etc. to show alternative access to the business during the project.
§ Private consultations on developing and implementing a "social media plan" for notifying customers and vendors about construction while growing the business through the fast growing area of social media.
§ MainStreet has created and updates a 30-page Regional Small Business Resource Directory which provides resources for the small business community. This directory is perfect for businesses looking to broaden their “circle of support” and is available for download on the MainStreet Web site, www.mainstreetinfo.org.