DSBA mulls busy year

SANDPOINT — From support for an ice skating rink to a partnership with North Idaho College, the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association has a busy year ahead.

Board members and managers laid out the upcoming projects at a quarterly meeting with business partners Wednesday evening. Attendees had the chance to mingle before presenter laid out their focuses for the coming months.

A project that has been envisioned for several years, the ice skating rink initiative has seen a few false starts in the past. However, a new, more affordable approach has reinvigorated it with a new swell of support and optimism.

“Our hope is that we might have this done by next winter,” said project presenter Chris Bessler, who filled in for originally-scheduled presenter Dr. Robert Pierce at the last minute.

Previously, the ice skating rink was attached to hopes of establishing a community center with a variety of athletic and recreational facilities.

The DSBA presentation, on the other hand, proposed a portable skating rink around 60 by 90 feet in size costing about $300,000.

The goals for the rink are threefold — to introduce residents to skating and hockey, market the idea of a community center to the public and attract additional traffic downtown.

According to proponents, the rink would be a great reason for Schweitzer tourists to drop by downtown Sandpoint for some skating and a bite to eat.    

Mary Gustafik of North Idaho College Sandpoint also presented a variety of methods to bridge the gap between the newly expanded college and the business community.

Through an interactive presentation, Gustafik and business owners pitched ideas for collaboration, including coupon books available for purchase, student discounts at participating stores and marketing tie-ins with NIC’s Cardinals mascot.

Of course, the DSBA has plenty of its own initiatives in the works, officials said.

DSBA’s First Thursdays event promises to be bigger and more popular than ever this year, with an abundance of live music, food and other attractions lined up for the monthly event. Other big spectacles like Oktoberfest and Battle of the Bands are also in the works.

Meanwhile, DSBA board members hope to implement new strategies for cross-marketing and assisting new businesses in finding solid locations.

“The ice skating rink update, as well as the DSBA programs synopses generated some renewed interest from those in attendance,” said DSBA manager Marcy Timblin.

“I had several people approach me and ask how they could be more involved.”