What is DEP?
The Downtown Excelsior Partnership, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, was created in 2006 with the mission of creating a vibrant downtown Excelsior Springs. 

Who is DEP?
DEP is a membership based organization consisting of downtown businesses, residents, organizations and supporting businesses within Excelsior Springs.  Do you want to become a member?

DEP is governed by a seven person board of directors.  The current directors are Ginger Nelson, President; Gina Covey, Vice President; Brenda Hambrick, Secretary; David Rhodus, Treasurer; Ben Mook, Brian Rice and Scott Middleton.  DEP has one full-time Executive Director, Keith Winge along with three part-time employees who staff the Hall of Waters Visitor Center.

What does DEP do?
DEP follows the National Main Street four committee approach to downtown revitalization:  Organization, Promotion, Economic Restructuring and Design.  Through these committees, DEP promotes the businesses and events downtown, helps eliminate blight and rehabilitate buildings, recruits and promotes businesses downtown and ensures the historic character of our roots.

Available building and space downtown

114 Marietta Street -

The Downtown Excelsior Partnership is currently soliciting offers to purchase and proposals to utilize the building formerly known as the Marietta Baptist Church, located at 114 N. Marietta Street in Downtown Excelsior Springs.  The Downtown Excelsior Partnership acquired the Marietta Church in October, 2007, and has invested $96,000 in replacing the roof, replacing the HVAC system, performing masonry repairs and updating electrical systems.  The stated purpose of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership is to provide a framework to guide the promotion and development of the Historic Downtown District as a community anchor and destination.  As such, a preference will be given to proposals that will bring a lively and vibrant retail trade and/or cultural traffic to Downtown Excelsior Springs.  Proposals to utilize should be submitted to the Executive Director of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Keith Winge at PO Box 513, Excelsior Springs, MO, 64024.

DREAM Retail Store Checklist - check it out!

Facade Grant Program available for downtown businesses and residents.
Click here for the application and guidelines.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Top 10 Reasons for Downtown

1.  Job growth
2.  Reuse available buildings
3.  Downtown is the core of the community
4.  Support investment - previous and future
5.  Heritage tourism
6.  Increase retail diversity/strength in numbers
7.  Currently providing incentives
8.  Assistance with city policies and procedures
9.  DREAM Community and City Master Plan initiatives
10. Downtown is the place to be!!

Cost of an Empty Storefront
A small building sitting empty for one year in a small-town commercial district will have the following impact on the community:
$250,000 in lost sales $12,500 in lost sales tax revenue to state and local government $15,000 in lost rents to the property owner $1,500 in lost property tax revenue to local government $51,000 in lost loan demand to local banks for the building $15,000 in lost loan demand to local banks for the business $750 in lost property management fees $24,750 in lost business profits and owner compensation $16,250 in lost employee payroll
Estimates prepared by Donovan Rypkema, Place Economics,Washington,D.C -----------------------------------------------------------------------