Petaluma Downtown Association Superstar at Conference, Buckelew Brings Local Food to Schools and More

The Petaluma Downtown Association (PDA) attended a conference last week for the California Downtown Association, an annual meeting designed to help nonprofit groups attract business to their downtowns. There, the PDA found itself the talk of the conference.

“Petaluma is a bit of a model [for other associations],” said Jennifer Hawks, an event and communications coordinator for the PDA. “We felt a bit like superstars.”

One reason for the strong praise is Petaluma's ability to attract strong retail sales in the day while keeping a vibrant nightlife, according to Marie McCusker, PDA’s executive director. 

“Our downtown is the core of Petaluma tourism and retail,” McCusker said. “And we’re looking for ways to leverage our appeal.”

That leverage being the city’s position as the gateway to the wine country as well as its proximity to Napa, although McCusker thinks adding public art and more hotel rooms could further leverage that appeal.

One prominent topic of discussion among the groups was fundraising and finding money to help keep the associations running smoothly, according to Hawks.

PDA was set up to lead coordination of downtown events as a business improvement district (BID), a public/private partnership to preserve an historic area and enhance retail sales in that area. PDA’s part is handling organization and cleaning efforts, such as the Butter and Egg Day Parade, and getting people to come downtown. But funds to run these basic functions have been reduced in the economy.

One possible route to additional funding would be to ask property owners to help fund the nonprofit, instead of relying only on business owners, which is now the case. But McCusker said that option is not being considered and would first have to be approved by the board.
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Food from local farms will soon be consumed at local schools and hospitals, thanks to People’s Harvest that will open a processing plant on 1297 Dynamic Way, near E. Washington St. and N. McDowell Blvd..

Set to be fully operational by April 2012, People’s Harvest will supply local organizations with food from local farms. People's Harvest is a project of Buckelew, a behavioral health organization, and will employ people with mental health issues.

“We’re creating jobs for the community at large and for people who have been disconnected from the work force,” said Executive Director Steve Ramsland. “We really see it as a win-win-win.”

Buckelew will employ 15 people to start, with the potential for as many as 75 once the facility is fully up and running. Those employed will be a mix of those with mental health and formally substance abuse issues as well as skilled workers.

The building will be retrofitted to include solar panels and waste compost. Buckelew also operates a 15-unit affordable living facility on Petaluma Blvd North near Lucky’s SuperMarket.
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OnTrac, a regional overnight delivery service, will be also leasing space on the east side of town at 3830 Cypress Drive, formally the Scandinavian Designs distribution Center, according to the North Bay Business Journal (NBBJ).

The Petaluma facility will add employees--five mail sorters as well as drivers. With four hubs from Menlo Park to Sacramento, the courier will be able to handle 60 percent more of the packages it delivers, mainly escrow documents for servicing firms.

With annual revenues of $200 million, OnTrac services a region that covers California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Colorado.