Community-directed funding is making a difference for small businesses in downtown Wheeling, WV.
The premise is simple: Community members are presented with projects that would positively impact the city and vote for the project they want to support.
Over the past 10 years Show of Hands has contributed over $100,000 to small businesses including $10,000 to open a doughnut shop, $4,436 to add a juice and smoothie bar to a local market, $7,064 to promote and distribute a local arts magazine, and $6,070 to a salon owner to make her shop more accessible to people with disabilities.
At the end of the evening, the winner takes home $4,000 provided by sponsors as well as all of the money collected at the door.
Winners return to a future Show of Hands to report on their project and its impact on the community.
Alex Panas, program manager of Wheeling Heritage explains the value of the program, “Even though it’s just a $5 donation at the door, they are investors in these businesses, and you can tell that they are interested in seeing these entrepreneurs really succeed and thrive. What we see after this event is even those who don’t win really do receive so much love and support through the community, whether that be through patronizing their business or just getting some more shares on social media to build awareness of their business. It’s really great all around.”
More creative ways to support downtown businesses appear in the November issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.
Click below to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors.