Alexandria – Did you know that the City City Association has been about 60 years? Have you heard of DMA too?
At the beginning of the New Year, Echo Press arrived at the president of the newly elected DMA board, Staci Bennett, to find out more about what DMA does and its membership.
Bennett, who is the Business Operations Manager for Explore Alexandria, was elected president of the DMA Board of Directors at the end of January.
The rest of the board members are: Mickey Larson by Larson Insurance, Vice President; Todd Gieseke by Dawn’s Jorgan Shop, Secretary; Jackie Holte from Glenwood State Bank, Treasure; And the widespread members, Lonnie Hanson from Bonjos, Heidi Bergerson from the Scandinavian Gift Store and Sara Robinson of Legacy of the Museum.
In addition to its board members, the City City Trade Association includes business owners and operators who believe in the importance of one in the center of the living city, Bennett said. She also said the group, which currently boasts about 60 members, works cooperative and cooperative to protect, promote and support businesses in downtown Alexandria.
Although the organization was established in 1967, it was not officially included until 1981. Then, in 2009, the organization applied and received the recognition of IRS as a 501c6 nonprofit organization.
Bennett explained how a nonprofit business association works similarly to the Alexandria Lakes Chamber of Commerce. A 501C6 organization promotes the interest of their members, while a 501c3 organization focuses on charity activities.
“Most of the organization’s operating funds are from membership obligations,” she said, adding that other initiatives such as events and beautiful flower baskets hanging in the city center every summer require additional fundraising efforts.
Yeardo year, DMA plans events that take place in the business circuit in the city center. In 2025, Bennett said some of the future events include Hop Shop in the city center 9-10 May; Crazy days 7-9 August; Save a buck (Hunting Opener) November 7-8 and extravaganza downtown on December 6th.
Something new is developing this year, Bennett said. DMA has always welcomed any business located in the city center. Well, this year, this is changing.
“We are expanding to include any business, regardless of location, who want to support a flowering community in the city center,” she said.
Businesses that are interested in paying membership taxes, which are collected every year. The benefits of becoming a member, according to Bennett, have a business list on the DMA website, DownTownalexandria.com, along with social media marketing, monthly networking meetings and information sharing, as well as opportunities to participate at events and other collaborations, to name some.
Alexandria echo Press Photo File
Members’ meetings take place on the fourth Friday of each month at 8am in the conference room on the third floor of the Creative Touch Boutique building. Meetings are only for members, but Bennett said the organization occasionally welcomes guest speakers and potential associates to attend.
While the newly elected President, Bennett, said she held hearing with many business owners in downtown because she wanted to hear from them how DMA could provide the greatest benefits for its members.
As a result of the conversations she had, which took place last year, she said DMA has already begun to work on improving its communication structure. She said this will help ensure that business owners are receiving the information they need at a time, organized in time.
“I am also excited to explore more opportunities to cooperate with other community organizations,” Bennett said. “Alexandria has so many passionate, cooperative, community -minded people, and sometimes all that it takes to happen magic is gathering the right people together in one room.”
She ended up saying that the main mission of the traders’ association in downtown is to “support the vibrancy and economic vibrancy of the center of Alexandria by promoting downtown as a destination for buyers, residents, visitors and business owners, and helping Its members follow their passions and share prosperity by providing a unified purpose and forum for communication, cooperation and education.
To find out more about DMA and its membership, visit DMA website, DowNalexandria.com, or look at her Facebook page, Facebook.com/dowNalexandria.
Celeste Edenloff is the special project editor and a reporter for Alexandria Echo Press. She has lived in the area of Alexandria Lakes since 1997. She first worked for Echo Press as a reporter from 1999 to 2011, and returned in 2016 to report once again on the community she calls home.