Nine key informant interviews were conducted with business and community leaders in February and March of 2012. Three interviews were conducted over the telephone and six interviews were conducted in person in Monmouth; each interview lasted approximately 30 minutes. Interviewees offered their candid opinions of city staff and practices, social policy and the business climate in Monmouth.
Community Image
The city is quiet, small and safe.
Monmouth is a great place to raise a family.
Monmouth could be a bedroom community to Galesburg if the economy improves.
Community Members
Monmouth’s residents are conservative, deeply practical and many of them are older. New venues in the downtown should offer products and services that are accessible to this segment of the population.
New venues should embrace Monmouth’s growing immigrant population.
It is difficult to get students to move back to Monmouth after leaving because of the lack of salaried jobs. Without a retention program, talented students have no reason to move back.
Monmouth has some excellent programs for people with special needs (WAC, Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding)
Leadership
There are many people in positions of authority and leadership has become fragmented, creating an inability to implement new ideas.
The City does not spend time connecting with business owners. There is a perception that some businesses have been excluded from “the downtown” through actions the city has taken in the past.
There is a perception that the police are intentionally stopping people at specific times of day as a way of making money by impounding vehicles.
The Chamber of Commerce could do more to support businesses before they begin to fail. The Chamber used to support events in the downtown, such as Living Windows, that were later cancelled by the Chamber. There is a perception that the City and the Chamber are not working closely together.
Appearance/Ambiance
Downtown needs more greenery because right now there is too much concrete.
The downtown lacks an intimate ambiance
It is difficult for pedestrians to move around the downtown
The downtown could be more bike friendly
The farmer’s market should be moved to the downtown to bring people there
Attracting New Businesses
New businesses for the downtown should be screened carefully, where it is possible to do so (such as through financing mechanisms). It is not enough to fill a space if the business is going to fail shortly thereafter.
There are no ready-for-occupancy spaces in the downtown, which is a deterrent to anyone who would want to open a business there. All of the spaces require substantial renovation.
Some businesses may have failed because their price points were too high for Monmouth shoppers, especially in retail such as women’s clothing.
Desirable new businesses include:
health food store gourmet food store an Indian restaurant (or other type of international food restaurant a book and coffee shop (such as Fuel in Mount Vernon, IA) an eclectic boutique (such as Silver Spider in Mount Vernon, IA) an ‘emporium’ to fill a department-store sized space, with many types of goods such as candy, books, clothing, etc. pop-up galleries
Lessons Learned from Key Informant Interviews
Multiple interviewees expressed a perception that the different branches of Monmouth’s government are working at cross-purposes. There was a lack of understanding about where specific responsibilities lie – for example, whether or not the City or the Chamber of Commerce is in charge of a program. In some cases, this perception was accompanied by one of a lack of leadership or authority such that there is little accountability to enact specific strategic goals for the downtown.
There is a marked disparity between the types of businesses that are desired for the downtown (trendy, boutique stores with mid-to-high price points) and the identified character of Monmouth shoppers (pragmatic, price-conscious.) This difference could explain why many businesses have previously failed to thrive in the downtown.
The downtown is perceived as aesthetically unappealing and despite its historic quality it lacks a “pull” factor for those interviewed; it is perceived as having a large amount of unused potential in its vacant spaces. The downtown’s lack of accessibility and lack of green space are hindering its ability to attract both consumers and prospective business tenants. Despite these obstacles, the community is perceived to be increasingly diverse, safe and amenable to families.