ABSTRACT
The key issues to be addressed by a downtown plan's implementation strategy include: organizational structure; public policies; funding and financing; and prioritizing, assigning, and phasing. Any chore as complex as managing and revitalizing a downtown requires a high level of organization. Successful downtown programs are implemented by either a single downtown organization or multiple organizations working together. Some independent downtown organizations are created through legislation of the local government, with board members being appointed by the municipality's governing body, as is the case for the Pensacola, Florida, Downtown Improvement Board. The four main components of a downtown organization include the governing board, the staff, committees, and volunteers. Any downtown plan that addresses the issue of organization should attempt to strike the right balance between those four elements as a vital step in creating and sustaining an effective downtown organization.
