Business improvement grant program is a great idea

“[O]ne un-repaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.”

Those are the words of social scientists James Wilson and George Kelling in a 1982 article in the Atlantic Monthly about the root causes of crime and urban decay.

Small things add up. This is true, whether it is for good or for bad. In the broken window theory, properties that are run down lead to increases in criminal behavior and a spiraling decay of the community. The foundations of society ultimately crumble and fall. While this may seem extreme, would you feel comfortable shopping, living or working in areas where windows were busted out or which were in general disrepair?

Windows are expensive, especially the large plate glass windows that are a common feature on storefronts. With the mountain of other expenses that any small business faces, a cracked window or chipped tile is just one more straw on the proverbial camel’s back to be dealt with when the resources are available.

One of the tests of any theory, is that if something is true, then its reverse should also be true.

Reversing the small things that bring down a business district, neighborhood or community should have a revitalizing effect. Repair the broken windows. Clean up the litter and debris. Cut down the weeds. Do the little things that add up to big changes.

It is that concept that is at the heart of a new grant program that the city of Medford, in cooperation with the village of Gilman, the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Development Authority, is seeking to get going. They are applying for funds from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to establish a Fix-It grant program which would allow businesses and commercial property owners to get micro-grants of up to $10,000 to pay for facade improvements for the maintenance of their buildings. Under the draft rules, if approved, the grant funds would match the investment made by the business owners.

This is a fantastic idea, not just because of the warm and fuzzy feeling associated with having a pretty downtown, but with the reality that a strong commercial district is an economic driver for the community and residents benefit from maintaining a strong commercial tax base.

Those working on securing the grant should be praised for their vision in recognizing that small things and small businesses make a big difference in the life of a community. It is likewise exciting to see communities working together in an attempt to make everyone stronger.

Our area communities cannot afford to be isolated or have a go-it-alone mentality. We live in a mobile society that is increasingly connected through the internet to channels of worldwide commerce. In this reality, there must be cooperation and coordination on the boots on the ground level to achieve success.

Small things matter. When taken together, they add up to great changes.