Iron Mountain Downtown Development Authority/Main Street (DDA/MS)
Volunteer Inventory
The following volunteer opportunities are available on an ongoing basis for persons of any age and ability:
 
Organization Committee Member
Purpose: Everyone working toward the same goal. The work of building consensus and cooperation among groups having an important stake in the district can be eased by using the common‐sense formula of a volunteer‐driven program, an organization structure of a board of directors and committees, and a financially strong organization.
 
Description of Duties: Attend one meeting per month, assist with public speaking engagements on the organization, recruit new volunteers, monitor existing volunteers,  track volunteers hours, plan annual volunteer party, select annual volunteer of the year, strategize fundraising efforts, compile quarterly Iron Mountain newsletter, assist Promotion Committee with sponsorships for downtown events.
 
Qualifications: None
 
Time Requirements: Any time available for helping to improve our community is welcome.   Most volunteers commit 3-5 hours per month.
 
Benefits: Meet new people, develop new skills, get involved in your community, earn volunteers hours for student organizations or internship credit for college.

 Design Committee Member
Purpose: Enhancing the visual quality of Downtown Iron Mountain through attention to all elements of the physical environment. An inviting atmosphere—created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights, landscaping and the buildings themselves—conveys a visual message of what Main Street is and what it has to offer.
                                      
Description of Duties: Attend one meeting per month, review annual façade grant applications, assist with historic downtown walking tours, provide input for visual downtown improvements, talk with and support building owners with downtown improvements, assist committee with ongoing dialogue with the Michigan Department of Transportation to support pedestrian and safety enhancements on Carpenter and Stephenson Avenues, promote National Register of Historic Places nomination, assist with fundraising for bikeracks, trees, flowers, benches and trash receptacles in the downtown.  
 
Qualifications: None
 
Time Requirements: Any time available for helping to improve our community is welcome.   Most volunteers commit 3-5 hours per month.
 
Benefits: Meet new people, develop new skills, get involved in your community, earn volunteers hours for student organizations or internship credit for college.

 Promotion Committee Member
Purpose: Selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects. By marketing the district’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity and special events carried out by local volunteers.
 
Description of Duties: Attend one meeting per month, organize and volunteer with downtown events including; Farmers Market, Out to Lunch, Italian Fest, Harvest on Hughitt, Girls Night Out and Downtown Christmas Walk, promote downtown Iron Mountain brand, encourage participation in events from downtown businesses and support efforts of Design and Business Development Committees to improve image and economic strength of downtown.
 
Qualifications: None
 
Time Requirements: Any time available for helping to improve our community is welcome.   Most volunteers commit 3-5 hours per month.
 
Benefits: Meet new people, develop new skills, get involved in your community, earn volunteers hours for student organizations or internship credit for college.
 
 
Business Development Committee Member
Purpose: Strengthening the existing economic assets of the business district while diversifying its economic base. By helping businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today’s market, Main Street programs help to convert unused space into productive property and to sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprises.
 
Description of Duties: Attend one meeting per month, utilize 2008 market study to support business recruitment and retention, support business assistance team, maintain downtown building inventory, assist with financial incentive programs to rehab vacant upper floors for housing, help with establishment of business incubator, coordinate with Michigan Economic Development Corporation to support business expansion and retention, support low interest revolving loan fund, host business improvement seminars and support the Young Professionals of the Upper Peninsula.  
 
Time Requirements: Any time available for helping to improve our community is welcome.   Most volunteers commit 3-5 hours per month.
 
Benefits: Meet new people, develop new skills, get involved in your community, earn volunteers hours for student organizations or internship credit for college.

 Tree & Flower Care Assistant
Purpose: Maintaining the visual image of the downtown by assisting with flower and tree maintenance and care.   By assisting with beautification efforts, the image that things are happening and the downtown is looking good increases and spurs increased investment.
 
Description of duties: Water and weed downtown flowers and trees.   Flowers include 35 large planters and 24 hanging baskets from lampposts.  24 trees also included.
 
Time Requirement: May through September, 7-10 hours per week, watering usually taking place 2 days per week.  
 
Benefits: Meet new people, develop new skills, get involved in your community, earn volunteers hours for student organizations or internship credit for college, working outdoors and obtaining a tan.
 
 
Technology Assistant
Purpose: Maintain and update Facebook and Iron Mountain website on a regular basis to assist with social media promotions and encourage youth involvement and connectivity to revitalization efforts.
 
Description of Duties: Post regular updates from business sales to events on Facebook and website.   Regularly update and refresh content on downtown Iron Mountain website www.ironmountaindowntown.com
 
Time Requirement: Extremely flexible, 1-2 hours per week, updates can be done from home or other remote location.
 
Benefits: Get involved in your community and earn volunteer hours or credit for student organizations.

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