Old Town Cape launches online fundraiser for banners

It took a community effort for Cape Girardeau to be selected as a 2015 Great American Main Street Award winner, and Old Town Cape again is hoping the community will come together to help it celebrate and commemorate the event.

Cape Girardeau was one of three winners this year, and is one of only five Missouri cities to receive such a distinction.

The award from the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, presents the award to "the country's best examples of comprehensive commercial district revitalization." Cape Girardeau was recognized because of its commitment to historic preservation, dynamic partnerships and the mix of attractions that contribute to a more exciting place to live, work, play and visit.

To celebrate and share the city's and Old Town Cape's pride in the award, the organization plans to hang banners throughout downtown. The plan is to affix them to every other light post, said project manager Christa Zickfield. But coming up with the funding to buy all those banners is an issue.

"We don't have the budget for something like this, especially since we didn't plan for it last year," she said.

Old Town Cape needs 35 banners, which come at a price of $100 each. It created a gofundme page Tuesday afternoon to help raise the money through donations. As of Wednesday afternoon, businesses and individuals pitched in to donate a total of $600.

While many have chosen to donate $100, which is the total cost of a banner and the hanging fixtures, Zickfield said the organization would appreciate donations of any size.

"Anything helps," she said.

Those frequenting downtown already may have noticed some of the efforts by Old Town Cape to boast the city's status as a Great American Main Street Award winner.

Many businesses sport window decals noting the achievement. Upcoming events such as Tunes at Twilight, which begins its 2015 season Friday, also represent an opportunity to share the information.

Old Town Cape also has asked business owners and downtown visitors for help in their endeavor through a whiteboard sign that says "I __ in one of the greatest downtowns in the nation!" Answers from the people who have posed with the signs range from "work" to "work out." Pictures of the groups and individuals, along with their answers, are posted to the organization's social media sites.

The idea is to help spread the message "downtown really is for everybody," Zickfield said. "This isn't an Old Town Cape award. It's because of our community and because of their support, whether it's financial or volunteer. ... Because of the people who believe downtown is worth saving and these old buildings should be saved and not all torn down, those efforts are why we got this award."

Those interested in learning more about fundraising for the banners may visit gofundme.com/ua7p23b. A banner design, featuring Old Town Cape's logo and a picture of downtown, has been put together, and official approval will be granted before the end of the month, Zickfield said.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.