Dear Community Business Partner: Sterling Main Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a vibrant downtown experience for all. As we plan our programs and events for the coming year, we are seeking your support through our annual partnership campaign. Sterling Main Street (SMS) relies on the generosity of the community, whose investment is crucial in allowing SMS to continue its mission of uniting individuals, organizations, businesses and local government to support a revitalized, historic downtown through a comprehensive approach which focuses on community assets and partnerships to develop, maintain and promote an attractive and vital downtown district. As you consider your support of Sterling Main Street, please take a moment to review our accomplishments and goals, and the benefits of being a Main Street partner.

2016 was an exciting time for Downtown Sterling. While the year started off quietly, things were booming by year-end! The Downtown spent much of 2016 under construction, with a number of infrastructure repairs and updates being made by Illinois American Water, and a number of sidewalk improvement projects also taking place. A Clean & Green downtown clean up day was held on a chilly Saturday morning in early May. More than 50 volunteers turned out to help spruce up the downtown for Spring. Landscape beds were cleaned up, flowers and perennials planted, and bags and bags of garbage picked up. Main Street’s Annual Car Show returned on May 22nd, partnering with the Sauk Valley Shifters Car Club who hosted a swap meet on the same date. Participation continues to grow in what is becoming a signature spring event for Sterling Main Street. The Grandon Civic Center and Central Memorial Park were full of activity throughout the summer months, despite Mother Nature’s attempts to rain out a few of our events. Movies at Grandon were held every other Tuesday evening. The downtown Sterling Theater provided an indoor space to show the movies on two of the rainy evenings. Main Street’s annual Music Fest returned to Grandon at the end of July. What was on track to be a wonderful day was cut short by storms rolling in that ended the event earlier than organizers would have liked. Despite the weather, a great time was had by all, and Main Street Music Fest will return for a 6th year in 2017.

The Twin City Farmers Market also took a chance on expansion. A new Tuesday evening “Mid-week Market” began in mid July, held at in Central Memorial Park from 4-7 PM. A dozen vendors offering fresh produce, eggs, baked goods, prepared foods, arts and crafts took part. This evening market was a good complement to the year-round Saturday morning market. Watch for it to expand for the summer of 2017.

In celebration of National Farmers Market Week the Twin City Farmers’ Market held its first “Mid-Summer’s Bounty,” a farm-to-table fundraising dinner. In partnership with the Kitchen Incubator of NW Illinois, local Chef Jonathan Zellar, along with beer pairings provided by Generations Brewing Co. from Freeport, IL., prepared a wonderful 5-course meal for attendees using a wide variety of locally-sourced produce and meats.

Hot Dog Day took over the downtown on Friday, August 5th. Over 6,300 hot dogs were sold in under 3 hours! Sidewalk sales lasted throughout the day. Even WQAD (Channel 8 from the Quad Cities) showed up with their news crew to see what all the excitement was about. There is already talk of trying to reach 10,000 hot dogs in 2017! A downtown tradition for more than 40 years, we are pleased to see the enthusiasm continue for this event each year.

Eight - yes 8 - new businesses opened their doors to the downtown between September and December 2016! After what seemed like years, issues regarding a sidewalk elevation were resolved and construction wrapped up for the opening of BB Kids. With the assistance of a Sterling Main Street façade grant, BB Kids and the adjoining UOI Boutique have made a huge impact on the vibrancy of the downtown. Smoked on 3rd BBQ Bistro & Catering Company is also a very welcome addition to the downtown, finding its home in the former Martin’s Steakhouse at 14 East 3rd Street. Other new businesses to the downtown include Legacy Martial Arts, Homeowners Financial Group, Los Tacos, Warner’s MVP Lounge and Live Better Chiropractic. Our Sterling Main Street office was also on the move in 2016. Moving across the hall from its prior location, the move made way for Ken Duncan Realty to locate its office in the downtown, sharing the building located at 318 First Avenue. Together with Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson, P.C., a holiday-themed Business After Hours event for the Sauk Valley Area Chamber was hosted to show off their new spaces in mid-December.

A groundbreaking was held for the start of the long-awaited Lawrence Lofts project in early October. This $5.6 million adaptive reuse project will bring a much desired residential housing component to the downtown, creating 20 apartments on the upper 4 floors above the courthouse - a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom units. The project should be completed in the late summer 2017. Links to leasing information may be found on our website, www.sterlingmainstreet.org. The Christmas season was welcomed with a bang during the Seasonal Sights & Sounds Christmas Walk on Friday, November 18th as fireworks lit the sky following the annual tree (and theater tower) lighting ceremony.

Once again, volunteers continue to be the life-blood of the Main Street organization, as 160+ volunteers dedicated more than 2200 hours of time in helping bring Main Street’s vision to life in 2016.

Continue to grow annual “Clean & Green” efforts to beautify downtown Sterling. Purchase additional lamppost flower baskets to complete the 200 block of East 3rd Street. Serve more than 10,000 hot dogs on Hot Dog Day! Continuation of core community events such as:

Movies at Grandon Main Street Car Show & Music Fest events Introduce a new fall craft-beer event “Hops on the Rock”

Continue to promote the Twin City Farmers’ Market as an agri-tourism destination, and expand the Mid-Week Farmers’ Market through additional vendors and special activities as a 10-week series event during the summer.

2017 Partnerships | 2

Improve regular communications between Main Street and the businesses it serves within the Central Business District through a regular newsletter and networking activities.

Continue to support and develop retail promotional activities with the downtown merchant group to draw both shoppers and additional retail businesses to the downtown district.

Grow in our working relationship with the City of Sterling and assist wherever possible in the implementation of its Strategic and Riverfront Redevelopment Plans and the revitalization of the Central Business District.

Continue to partner with Sterling Today, Inc., the Greater Sterling Development Corp., Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, and other community partners in economic development activities for the betterment of the greater Sterling area.

Your partnership advertises your business. Sterling Main Street advertises its partners on a variety of media platforms. Your partnership contribution directly affects your level of advertising exposure .

Your partnership shows the public and other businesses that the community’s image and prosperity are important to you.

Event goers, fellow businesses and our volunteers will recognize your support by supporting you. You help to instill community pride and partnership.

You will have the opportunity to interact with other businesses, individuals and public officials in a fun social setting.

Main Street is focused on keeping the core of our community both vibrant and thriving for generations to come. Your support helps us with hosting community family events, local historic preservation, promoting our downtown activities and strengthening our business-to-business activities. We know that a strong downtown makes Sterling a more enticing place to start a business or raise a family.

In addition to the many specific event-related promotional opportunities outlined herein, Sterling Main Street has a number of ongoing programs and revitalization efforts for which funding is also needed. These programs include our downtown beautification efforts through annual “Clean & Green” activities, the installation of lamppost flower baskets and other annual plantings; Hot Dog Day and other promotional events; and Sterling’s Seasonal Sights & Sounds Christmas events coordinated in partnership with the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Your unrestricted Partnership Contributions will be used to help support these activities in addition to where needed for specific events.

Unrestricted Partnership Contributions will be recognized as follows:

________ Friend of Main Street Name listed on website & social media 0-$99

________ Cornerstone Partner Name listed on website & social media w/ link to business $100-$499 website or social media of choice

________ Foundation Partner Logo on website & social media $500+ w/ link to business website or social media of choice 2017 Partnerships | 3

Movies at Grandon

June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25 & Aug 8 A FREE outdoor summer movie featuring family- Grandon Civic Center/Central Memorial Park friendly movies, Tuesday evenings at Dusk. • June 13 - Secret Life of Pets _______ Premier Partner • June 27 - Storks 10 Opportunities—$300 (2 per movie) • July 11 - Moana ◊ Partner provided signage and booth space at your choice of movie • July 25 - Finding Nemo ◊ Logo on event banner and in all printed materials, including • Aug 8 - Finding Dory social media & website

_______ Supporting Cast—$100 ◊ Listed on event banner ◊ Listed in all printed materials, including social media & website

Tuesdays June 6—Aug 15 4 PM—7 PM An expansion of the year-round Twin City Farmers’ Central Memorial Park Market, this 10 week series will be a more active Market featuring live music; weekly themes, along with local produce, eggs & cheeses, specialty foods, ________ 1 Exclusive Presenting Partner—$1,000 baked goods and hand-crafted artisan items Same as Market Sponsor w/ upgrades ◊ 10x10 space at all Tuesday markets ◊ Promote planned events at markets ________ Market Sponsor—$300 ◊ Partner provided signage at all Markets ◊ 10x10 Space at 3 Markets-TBD

◊ Logo on printed materials & market banner ◊ Promotional items at info tent

________ Market Friend—$100 ◊ Promotion on website & social media ◊ 10x10 space at 1 Market–TBD ◊ Name on printed material & market banner ◊ Promotion on website & social media

Earth Day Bash The Twin City Farmers’ Market annual kick off to the Saturday, April 22 8 AM—Noon growing season, this family-friendly event features Twin City Farmers’ Market a petting zoo, face-painting, music and loads of children’s activities allowing them to “play in the ________ Go Green Partners dirt”, planting seeds and other interactive fun! 2 Exclusive Partnerships—$500 ◊ 10x10 booth space during the event ◊ Partner provided signage at event ◊ Logo on all printed materials ◊ Promotion on website and social media

2017 Partnerships | 4

Main Street Car Show Sunday, May 7 Continuing to see growth each year, with 128 2nd Avenue & 2nd Street, Downtown Sterling registered vehicles in 2016, the annual Car Show is quickly becoming a core event for Sterling Main ______ Presenting Partner—$1,000 Street. ◊ Partner Provided signage at event ◊ Logo on event banner _____ Event Partner—$500 ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Small logo on event banner ◊ Logo on all printed materials ◊ Mention in event announcement ◊ Promotion on website & social media ◊ Name listed on all printed materials ◊ Partner provided promotional items at info tent ◊ Promotion on website & social media ______ Supporting Partner—$250

◊ Name listed on event banner ◊ Mention in event announcement ◊ Promotion on website & social media

Main Street Music Fest Saturday, July 22 Returning for a 6th year at the Grandon Civic Center this day long, all ages music festival features a variety ______ Presenting Festival Partner—$2,500 of music, art and food. ◊ Partner Provided signage at event ◊ Logo on event banner _____ Supporting Partner—$1,000 ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Logo on event banner ◊ Logo on all printed materials ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Promotion on website & social media ◊ Small logo on all printed materials ◊ 10x10 space at event ◊ Promotion on website & social media ◊ Up to 50 event tickets ◊ Up to 20 event tickets ______ Set Partner—$500 ◊ Name listed on event banner ______ Song Partner—$250 ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Listing on poster & website ◊ Promotion on website & social media ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Up to 10 event tickets ◊ 4 tickets to event _____ Note Partner—$100 ◊ Listing on website ◊ 2 tickets to event

MID-SUMMER’S BOUNTY: A Farm-to-Table Dining Experience Saturday, August 12 In celebration of National Farmers’ Market Week, this Twin City Farmers’ Market event is a 5-course dinner created by local chef, Jonathon Zeller featuring the offerings of the Twin City ______ Chef’s Table Partner—$500 Farmers’ Market vendors and beer pairings from ◊ Logo on all printed materials Generations Brewing Co. Limited tickets are sold for ◊ Partner provided signage at event this unique event. ◊ Promotion on website & social medis ◊ 2 event tickets _____ Appetizer Partner—$100 ◊ Promotion on website & social media 2017 Partnerships | 5

Sterling Main Street 318 First Avenue PO Box 261 Sterling, IL 61081 815-626-8610 info@sterlingmainstreet.org www.sterlingmainstreet.org

Harvest Moon Festival

Saturday, October 14 8 AM—Noon The Twin City Farmers’ Market welcome to Fall, Twin City Farmers Market this family-friendly event features a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, face-painting, music and loads of ________ Harvest Partners children’s activities. 2 Exclusive Partnerships—$500 ◊ 10x10 booth space during the event ◊ Partner provided signage at event ◊ Logo on all printed materials ◊ Promotion on website and social media

Saturday, October 14 As part of our annual Harvest Moon Festival, Sterling Times & Location TBD Main Street will introduce a new Craft Beer Tasting Event to the afternoon, to expand for a full day of _____ Barrel Partner—$1,000 activities. ◊ Partner Provided signage at event ◊ Logo on event banner _____ Growler Partner—$300 ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Small logo on event banner ◊ Logo on all printed materials ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Promotion on website & social media ◊ Name listed on all printed materials ◊ Promotion on website & social media ______ Pint Partner—$100 ◊ Name listed on event banner ◊ Mention in event announcements ◊ Promotion on website & social media

IMAGINE a more vibrant Sterling,

by CREATING the kind of Community we want to live in,

through INNOVATIVE thinking and collaboration.

Please feel free to contact Sterling Main Street at any time throughout the year should you have questions regarding your partnership benefits, or

would like additional information on any of our activities.