Monthly Columns
The Brilliance of Bill – The Argument
As our conversation progressed, we rarely met a topic we didn’t agree on. In fact, it wasn’t until we started discussing the first step that needs to be taken to rejuvenate main street that our paths diverged.
I’m a firm believer in tools. The more free, useful tools we can offer to small businesses, the better the businesses will do, and the better our main street will look. If we can make businesses more efficient and level the playing field (against Wal-Mart, the internet, etc), our main street will have no other option than to grow. And we do that with technology, hence the creation of Shopbengil.com. It solves 3 problems almost every business faces: 1) Customer convenience without added expenses: It allows a business to sell 24 hours per day, 7 days per week without incurring any added expenses. 2) Lower overhead and initial investment: For retail businesses considering opening a brick and mortar store, the site allows them to create a virtual store for free and test their business model prior to investing tens of thousands of dollars in a building. 3) Better analytics: Numbers drive businesses. Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, Target, and other wildly successful businesses are all data driven. The more information they have about their customers, the better they can serve them, the more products they sell them, and the more money they make from them. Old school cash registers just don’t cut it. They provide too little sales data. Technology is the answer.
Bill disagreed. According to him, our main problem was our curb appeal. “It would be like someone looking to buy a house. What’s the exterior like? Can I fix the interior for a reasonable amount of money? Is the yard landscaped and well groomed? What kind of neighborhood is it in? How do the neighbors’ houses look? If I buy it and spend money on renovations, will it retain its value and possibly even provide a return on investment?”
Bill was right. The more I thought about it, the more I understood the importance of “curb appeal.” If you talk to any business guru, the firs 3 words you’ll hear when considering opening a retail store: location, location, location. It matters! Just ask Starbucks, Walgreens, or McDonald’s.
I love going to historic St. Charles. I love the look. I love the feel. I love the atmosphere. I don’t shop for crafts or drive an hour for the restaurants. I waste my gas because I love the admiring the historic buildings, and taking in the sights and sounds of people shopping. Every time we go, I tell my wife I’d love to open up a business there. It’s all about location. It has a beautiful curb appeal.
And it’s because of Bill’s suggestion, we decided to create a “main street makeover” grant. The grant will be funded by Ageless and ShopBenGil.com, and is available to any business located on the BenGil main street. We’ll match up to $300 for any project that improves the exterior of a business located on the main street. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new sign, paint, new flower pots, a new outdoor sound system, or new outdoor furniture. If it improves the look of main street, it meets our requirements.
We plan on offering a minimum of 6 grants over the course of the next 12 months. We hope that this creates a domino effect, and spurs the involvement of other local, successful businesses in improving our local economy. Donations are always welcome. The more money we get, the more money we’ll give out, and the more improvements we’ll make. It’s how economies should be improved: businesses helping businesses. It’s the essence of small town living: helping your neighbor out when he needs help. It’s not a handout. It’s an investment. Whether businesses like to admit it or not, we all depend on each other, and we need to start investing in each other.
We’ll start with existing businesses, and hopefully eventually progress to empty buildings. Just imagine how much better the main streets would look if every empty building had a “dummy store” in it. All it would take is a sign, a little exterior paint, and a few items in the window, and our main street would look full again. Imagine what that would do for curb appeal.
Either option would help improve our local economy, but combine the two and 1+1 now equals 3.
Comments
Dear Editor,
Domestic Violence within Macoupin County is prevalent. It is destructive and can be both physical and psychological. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. It may include behaviors meant to scare, physically harm, or control a partner. While every relationship is different – domestic violence generally involves an unequal power dynamic in which one partner tries to assert control over the other in a variety of ways. The following statistics are all according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
We can see domestic violence inside the home: through the use and control of household pets. In one study, 85% of survivors who experienced co-occurring animal abuse reported that the behavior of their pets had changed. An even higher percentage of survivors who reported partners had harmed or killed their pet, have also reported their partner for domestic violence. We can also see an increase usage of firearms within the intimate partner violence home. A survey of contacts by the National Domestic Violence Hotline found (of those with access to firearms):
- 10% said their abusers had fired a gun during an argument.
- 67% believed their abusers were capable of killing them.
We can see domestic violence inside our schools: as partner violence is not exclusive to the home. There are many instances of violence between dating partners that begin in high school. Nearly 1.5 million high school students in the United States are physically abused by dating partners every year. Within those relationships, 13.4% of male high school students report being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
We can see domestic violence inside our community: Macoupin County provides a specific set of needs for those victims and survivors of domestic violence. There are several complex concerns within a violent relationship that come to light once action has been taken. Safe Families sees a few main re-occurring concerns within the county:
- Survivors have fewer financial resources, making them more financially dependent on an abusive partner.
- The lack of rental units or other affordable housing options makes it more difficult for survivors to leave spouses or co-habiting abusers.
The Macoupin County Safe Families program provides support for residents as they journey the emotional endeavors to leave behind domestic violence. As a contributor to that experience, we will be hosting a Domestic Violence Awareness Walk on October 7th on the Carlinville Square. An event shirt will be included with a ticket sale. The online tickets will close 09/29 at 5pm. Tickets will be sold at 9am day-of event at the Safe Families booth. More information about the Awareness Walk can be found on our website at mcphd@mcphd.net. We urge Macoupin County residents to join us and rally against domestic violence together.
Juliet Wooldridge and Lilly Booth
Domestic Violence Advocate Coordinators
Community Health Worker
Macoupin County Safe Families
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Dear Editor,
Community Health Centers are the backbone of our nation’s primary health care system. We design innovative, integrated primary care based on what services communities need most — ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare for over 30 million people. In addition to creating jobs and saving lives, collectively we save American taxpayers $24 billion a year in health care costs by preventing and managing chronic diseases.
Community Health Centers are not ordinary medical clinics; we are also problem-solvers who reach beyond the exam room to care for the whole person by providing access to necessities like food, transportation, and housing. Community Health Centers care for everyone, regardless of insurance status. Nationwide during hurricanes, floods, and fires, and locally during the pandemic, Community Health Centers are first on the scene and are vital to keeping America healthy.
The 2023 theme of National Health Center Week is ‘The Roadmap to a Stronger America.’ Community Health Centers serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, we offer support and love. In moments of triumph, we offer hope and a vision for the future. This year’s National Health Center Week theme takes us on a virtual road trip across America, highlighting the achievements and amazing work being done at Community Health Centers in every state and territory. Celebrate the uniqueness of our community and get to know others as we journey across the U.S. together!
Each day of National Health Center Week is dedicated to a particular focus area. We will be working with community partners to recognize and celebrate each of the following focus groups in our community.
- Sunday, 8/6: Public Health in Housing Day
- Monday, 8/7: Healthcare for the Homeless Day
- Tuesday, 8/8: Agricultural Worker Health Day
- Wednesday, 8/9: Patient Appreciation Day
- Thursday, 8/10: Stakeholder Appreciation Day
- Friday, 8/11: Health Center Staff Appreciation Day
- Saturday, 8/12: Children’s Health Day
As part of National Health Center Week 2023, we invite you to support Macoupin Community Health Centers, Inc. to celebrate our mission and accomplishments.
Christy Blank
CEO/Public Health Administrator
Macoupin Community Health Centers, Inc.
Macoupin County Public Health Department
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