Schoenewald takes volunteer position

The Hot Springs County Museum was busy the evening of Monday, June 22. The Wyoming Business Council's Access to Capital Solutions and Strategies presentation by Ryan Whitehead, Business Finance Program Manager from Cheyenne, held an informative discussion at 5:30 p.m.

Whitehead presented the public with multiple loan and investment programs offered by the Business Council and encouraged local banks to investigate these programs to offer local small business owners more options for funding. Many of the programs offer low interest rates and can help downtown business owners improve the infrastructure and appearance of main street buildings.

The Main Street Thermopolis board met directly after the Business Council at 6:15 p.m. After reviewing the current financial report, Oktobrewfest was the main discussion for old business.

One Eyed Buffalo owner Damien Oliver resigned from his positions on the board which included his involvement in Oktobrewfest activities. Whether Oktobrewfest would be ran similarly to last year or be more representative of a brewfest had not been decided. The group decided that, with as many details that still needed to be researched, Oktobrewfest should be re-assigned to the promotional committee. Due to time constraints, the strategic planning committee moved their meeting time to accommodate the promotional committee directly after the evening's meeting. The strategic planning committee's next meeting will be August 27 directly after the board meeting.

Board member Lea Schoenewald resigned from her position to volunteer for the Main Street Manager Volunteer position. This position came about with the acceptance of Main Street Thermopolis as an Affiliate Main Street community in January of this year. The purpose of this position will be to give Main Street Thermopolis a face and be available to talk to downtown business owners about opportunities to help their businesses succeed and improve the face of downtown.

Schoenewald is very passionate about the rejuvenation of downtown Thermopolis, and with her long-standing ties to the community, the board feels she is an excellent fit for the position. While discussing her new role, she remembered Thermopolis from her childhood as having a vibrant and busy downtown area and this is what she wishes to restore.

"I am very honored and excited to take on this position, and I will do everything in my power to help Thermopolis and downtown business owners succeed," said Schoenewald.

Shurie Scheel volunteered to replace Schoenewald's position as Secretary.

Term limits for board members were set for staggered lengths. With ten board positions available, three positions were appointed a 1-year term, three positions were appointed a 2-year term, and four positions were appointed a 3-year term.

To coincide with the board's annual budget deadline, the Main Street Thermopolis First Annual Meeting was set for the month of June 2016.