Building a Business Ecosystem in Downtown Freeport

The Themes from What We’ve Heard:

• Attract more local businesses to downtown.  

• Expand local food options downtown. 

• Spaces for co-working, creating, and making downtown. 

• Embrace the shift towards the experiential economy and unique events downtown.

• Embrace digitalization and technology.

Discussion Questions

• How can the messaging, branding, and identity of Downtown be improved to align with the community’s vision for the future of downtown? Is the outlet mall identity still relevant? 

• Does Freeport have guidelines for people who want to start businesses?

• How do we attract and create an environment for local retail and local businesses to thrive? 

• How can Downtown adapt to be more experiential?

• How can Downtown adapt to the changing nature of the service economy?

• Are there any retail spaces Downtown that are vacant because previous national tenants are holding the lease without releasing the vacant space to be re-tenanted? 

• Is there uniform coverage of high-speed internet Downtown? If not, why? 

• What are the state programs and initiatives that Freeport can take advantage of in the near term?

• Tenancy/Leasing:  Challenges to leasing and filling empty commercial spaces. What is keeping you from filling spaces? What type of businesses are interested?  

• How can we address the challenges of seasonality in Freeport and increase business traffic during the “slower” season from mid-January to mid-June?

• What other industries/businesses should be in downtown?

• What business obstacles do potential entrepreneurs face when trying to open a new shop and/or business on Main Street?

• How can businesses in downtown adapt to changes in technology and how can the physical character of downtown respond? (For example, as mobile orders and online pickup become more popular, are there shared “short term loading zones” to make it easy and convenient for customers to temporarily park and pick up a mobile order.)