UDA finds new director; eyes new direction

Simmons, a Missouri native who worked in Sedalia as director of Main Street Sedalia Inc. from 1995 to 2002, begins his new position Jan. 2.

"I am thrilled to be coming back to Missouri," said Simmons, 39. "I kind of had my eye on moving into a metropolitan setting. For Springfield to have opened up was fortuitous."

Compere stepped down Sept. 30 after three years in the position, but announced his resignation in July, giving the board ample time for a search. UDA Board President Rusty Worley said the search committee, led by president-elect Jan Horton, received 25 resumes. The committee narrowed the search to five candidates, each of whom was interviewed by telephone before bringing two finalists to Springfield for personal interviews. Board members said Simmons' personal communication skills and economic development experience earned him the job.

"We think he has the right combination of experience and skills in the fields in which UDA is engaged," Horton said, citing downtown management and economic development.

As director of Glenwood Springs Downtown Development Authority, where he's worked since December 2002, Simmons coordinated with city officials to identify funding sources for a $20 million tax increment financing district, and developed and secured public-private partnerships and funding sources for other downtown development. In Sedalia, he promoted and managed a national historic district in which he marketed strategies to increase traffic count and improve tenant mix and rates. He also coordinated $1.2 million in private, state and federal funding for restoration of Missouri Pacific train depot, a multimodal transportation center for Sedalia. The Missouri Downtown Association named Simmons 2001 Downtown Director of the Year.

"We felt like extensive knowledge of those economic development tools was a key piece that we were looking for in this position," Worley said.

Simmons' experience is gained from the National Main Street Center. "My area of focus has been the National Main Street Center four-point approach, which really empowers the residents and business and property owners in a community to achieve the changes necessary for the marketplace," he said.

Simmons is a certified Main Street manager through the National Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust of Historic Preservation, which emphasizes historic preservation in downtown revitalization in four categories: organization, promotion, economic restructuring and design. "That's been my frame of reference over the past eight years," Simmons said. "The skills brought from my Main Street experience will translate very well to the efforts of the UDA."

Looking ahead

Worley said the UDA is seeking a new direction. Based on results from a downtown organizational assessment released by Denver-based Progressive Urban Management Association Inc. in June, board members agree the organization would be best suited to take on more of a leadership role. The study's results show UDA had become more of a hands-on management group, rather than fulfilling its intent of serving as an umbrella organization for Downtown Springfield Association, Community Improvement District, Downtown Dining & Entertainment Commission, Springfield Finance and Development Corporation, Springfield Regional Arts Council, Walnut Street Historic District and Commercial Street Historic District.

"We will be the keeper of the vision and be a coordinator of the groups in center city," Worley said. "We'll be trying to facilitate more communication amongst the various organizations."

Horton, who begins her presidency July 1, stresses improved communication through new quarterly forums on downtown issues beginning in first quarter 2004, and UDA's annual report, which Worley called one of Simmons' first projects.

Simmons said he's been notified of that direction, but before speaking of his plans and goals, he wants to sit down with the board. "I really want that to be a board directive," he said. "Being new on the scene, I need to follow their familiarity and their lead on that. I want to develop a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the Springfield market."

Worley added that UDA will continue to manage key downtown events such as Artsfest, Cider Days, First Night and the DSA Christmas Parade.

UDA's overall goals are to be keeper of the center city vision, cultivator of diversified economic development, facilitator of communication and coordinator/manager of center city events, Worley said.

Among Simmons' responsibilities will be building office and retail occupancy and continuing to promote residential development downtown, Worley said.

Simmons inherits an organization that helps carry out the Center City Plan Element of Vision 20/20, which has been a catalyst for approximately $100 million in public and private investment in center city; advocates for the voter-approved, self-taxing Community Improvement District and manages its $200,000 annual budget; facilitates center city streetscape projects that have totaled about $1.5 million; and assists city staff in finding parking solutions downtown and in providing faade loan and financing for center city investment.

Simmons said he is house hunting via the Internet and hopes to move to Springfield the weekend of Dec. 19.