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Website Maintained by the Woodstock Downtown Business Association - Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved
Phone:  815-353-5090

Board of Directors

Chair
Doug Fenstermaker
Seasons by Peg
815-206-3666

Vice-Chair
Merida Johns, 
Bundling Board Inn B&B
815-338-7054

Secretary
Margaret Grell
815-338-8927

Treasurer
Mike Palmquest

Directors

Beverley Ganschow
Old Court House Arts Ctr
815-338-4525  

Maida Korte
Designs by Maida
815-337-2046  

Tina Mason
HomeElements
815-337-4707

Dorothy Rawlins,
Alexandria House B&B
815-206-5000

Ceal Schoder
The Thoughtfulness Shop
& Gallery 100
815-338-5651

Cort Carlson
McHenry County Convention & Visitor's Bureau
815-363-6177

Arlene Lynes
Read Between the Lynes
815-206-5967

Interim Executive Director
Lucia Matlock
815-353-5090

Next Board Meeting:  Wednesday, 9/3/08, 6:00 PM, WDBA Office at 233 Main Street

About the Woodstock Downtown Business Association

The Woodstock Downtown Business Association (WDBA) is an action-oriented group of volunteers whose purposes are:

• To improve conditions and advance the common interest of the downtown businesses in the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois, including the Historic Downtown Woodstock Square and the Woodstock Downtown Business Historic Preservation District

•  To stimulate Downtown revitalization through the following:

• Education of the community in general and the Downtown business community specifically;  

• Organization by encouraging cooperation and building leadership in Downtown;

• Promotion and creation of a positive image for Downtown as an exciting place to live, shop and invest in; and

• Improving the appearance of Downtown through design and other appearance activities.

• To protect and preserve the Woodstock quality of life that is valued by the citizens of Woodstock;  
  

• To receive, administer and distribute funds in connection with any activities related to the foregoing purposes that are within the purview of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding provisions of any prior or future law, such activities including, but not limited to, activities related to the Main Street Program.

Organization History

The WDBA originally formed iin January 2006 as  a coalition of committed small downtown businesses.  The founding members of the WDBA did their homework in studying what small downtowns did to make themselves successful in attracting the local and leisure visitors.  One of the things common to successful small downtowns is the existence of a downtown business association solely focused on small downtown business needs.   

Reviewing the data on successful downtowns and looking at the results of its own research, the founding members of the WDBA were committed more than ever to the vision of a vibrant downtown business association for Woodstock that was cooperative and collaborative in nature.  

As the organization matured, its Board of directors and members recognized the need for the organization to be broader in purpose than solely focusing on attracting local and leisure visitors to downtown.  To that end, the organization embraced the philosophy of a comprehensive approach to downtown community revitalization through education, cooperation and building leadership, creation of a positive image and historic preservation.  With Woodstock City Council and community support the WDBA made application for membership in the Illinois Main Street Program in September 2007.  The Woodstock Downtown Business Association was accepted as an Associate Illinois Main Street Program in November 2007 and is currently working toward fulfilling all requirements to achieve full designation as an Illinois Main Street organization.    

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Many thanks to Jennie Dincecco
Whose wisdom and guidance made possible the WDBA

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The Marketing Partners supporting the WDBA 2008 Marketing Plan include:  

If you would like more information about the WDBA or want to join the WDBA click here

The Woodstock Downtown Business Association is an Associate Member Illinois Main Street

The Woodstock Downtown Business Association’s (WDBA) efforts for downtown revitalization have earned it recognition as an Associate of the Illinois Main Street Program.   Lucia Matlock, President of the WDBA, received the designation on behalf of the organization on Thursday, November 15^th from Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn at the Annual Illinois Main Street Conference held in Danville, IL.  Out of 26 communities that started the application process in 2007, the WDBA was one of only three organizations accepted into the Illinois Main Street program this year.  The Illinois Main Street program is a volunteer-driven, preservation-based, downtown revitalization program.  For more information about the Illinois Main Street Program, click on the logo below.