Downtown Seeks To Improve Signs - We've Got A Suggestion Or Two

We've been sitting on this article from the Rutland Herald for a few days now, contemplating our response. After all, we're new here, we don't have a whole lot of history to draw on but then again without new people and without their input, no matter how naive, how can things improve?

It turns out the Downtown Rutland Partnership and Rutland Redevelopment Authority are submitting two grants for a total amount of $48,000 to purchase.....new signs. New signs?! Who knew signs cost so much?! The purpose of said signs is to welcome travelers to downtown and point out amenities .... particularly the parking garage on West Street (really, the parking garage?!).

Don't get us wrong, some directional signs would be nice. Take for example these signs we saw today for Rutland's Farmer's Market. Some directions (say an arrow or an address as a basic starting point) wouldn't go astray. The Rut's Farmer's Market is a FANTASTIC event on a Saturday, but in its current winter location it is impossible to find. We should be doing everything we can to support and promote local businesses and we think applying for grants supporting those types of endeavors would be a more worthy investment of time.

How about helping existing businesses establish their own websites (so few seem to have them)?

How about encouraging new businesses to setup downtown (a subsidy on the rent perhaps)?

That way when travelers and tourists visit, there's actually something there for them to see, rather than vacant stores (take a look at the number of listings on the Downtown Rutland Partnership's site) or food venues and shops that aren't open weekends when lots of travelers go exploring.

How great would it be to have a few sit down options for breakfast downtown on a weekend? I mean Clem's is great and all but it gets a bit boring week in week out. How great would it be to direct people properly to the Farmer's Market so they can sample and purchase our local wares?

Speaking of the Farmer's Market. Is it our imagination or are there decidedly less vendors at the moment? We seem to remember a Mexican guy who sold beautiful jewelry, a cupcake woman and maybe a person with homemade dips? We didn't see them today. On the plus side our favorite musician was playing today making for a pleasurable trip around the stalls.