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Laird takes over as Downtown Dover Partnership executive director

Downtown Dover Partnership

The Downtown Dover Partnership has a new executive director.

Diane Laird took over as the partnership’s executive director on September 10, 2018.

She replaces Interim Executive Director Maureen Feeney Roser who has filled the post since February.

Laird is excited to step in after working as state coordinator for Downtown Delaware since 19-98,  In that role, she says she delivered assistance in sort of a black and white fashion, providing services and technical assistance to managers overseeing downtown activities.

“But now I can say that my work is in color. I actually take what I’ve learned over the years and put it into action and get to see the results of that training or assistance right on the street with merchants and stakeholders in the downtown,” Laird said.

Laird says she brings a deep understanding of non-profit development and downtown business recruitment, retention and expansion strategies to her new job.

The Downtown Dover Partnership is a volunteer organization focused on downtown revitalization.

 

Laird says she’s already looking ahead to additional downtown revitalization projects.

"There is one frame of thought right now to consider the various partners in the County and at the State level and at the Local level especially, right here in the downtown, many of which are working on some aspect of downtown revitalization, whether it’s housing and residential redevelopment or commercial or business,” said Laird.

One idea Laird is currently considering is hiring Street Sense, a Washington D.C.-based marketing firm, that made its pitch to several of Dover’s civic leaders, business owners and others this past summer.

She says Street Sense would provide DDP with planning support as it moves forward with its downtown revitalization initiatives.

 

Laird previously served on the National Main Street Executive Council and since 1998 was state coordinator for Downtown Delaware - a community revitalization resource center within the Division of Small Business, formerly the Delaware Economic Development Office.

 
 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.