FAQs

 

What is Re:New DeKalb, Inc.?

 

Who are the leaders of Re:New DeKalb?

 

What are the Re:New Committees?

 

Who are the Re:New DeKalb staff?

 

What is Re:New DeKalb’s relationship to the City of DeKalb?

 

What is Re:New DeKalb’s role in the public improvements project?

 

How is Re:New DeKalb funded?

 

Who are RNDK Financial Contributors?

 

Q:  What is Re:New DeKalb, Inc.?
A:  Re:New DeKalb is a 501(c)(3), public-private partnership dedicated to downtown economic development and revitalization of DeKalb’s urban core. Recognizing that a vital downtown is the heart of any successful city, the late Mayor Frank Van Buer created Re:New DeKalb as part of a master plan to make DeKalb a better place to live, work and do business.

 

Re:New DeKalb is currently concentrating on the revitalization of Lincoln Highway from Pearl Street to Peace Road and the areas adjacent to the north and south.

The Mission of Re:New DeKalb is to expand, strengthen, and implement the redevelopment efforts in the city of DeKalb’s urban core and related adjacent areas.

Q: Who are the leaders of Re:New DeKalb?
A:  Re:New DeKalb is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and a talented staff. The RNDK Board of Directors is made up of dedicated community members representing the many facets of our community. Many of the board members were originally appointed as task force members to oversee the downtown revitalization plan. Each member of the Board of Directors provides financial support as well as volunteer leadership and service. Board members and other community volunteers provide leadership and service on a variety of committees as well.

ReNew DeKalb Executive Board Members

Frank Roberts — President

Castle Bank — Executive Vice President

Mike Mooney — Co-Vice President
Mike Mooney Chevrolet-Cadillac — President

Denise Weinmann - Co-Vice President

Milner & Associates - Commercial Realto

Tim Lehan — Treasurer
Lehan Drugs — President

John Rey-Secretary

Mark Biernacki
City of DeKalb — City Manager

 

 

ReNew DeKalb Board Members

Lisa Angel
Shaw Suburban Media — Marketing Development Manager

Rosa Balli
Rosita’s & Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurants

Jim Briscoe
DeKalb Public School — Superintendent

Alice Freier
DeKalb Clinic — Administrator

Bob Higgerson
National Bank & Trust Company — Senior Vice President

John Launer
Sports Of All Sorts (S.O.A.S.) — Owner

Chuck Shepard
Shepard Construction — Owner

 

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Fundraising Committee:
The Fundraising Committee works to develop and implement a long-term sustainable funding plan for RNDK. Two-thirds of our annual operating budget is funded by private contributions from community partners, business owners, residents, major corporations and local organization who care about downtown DeKalb along with special projects and grant funding. Re:New DeKalb’s long-term goal is to be entirely self-sufficient. To that end, the organization is in the second year of a multi-year private fundraising campaign. Re:New DeKalb is pleased to be supported by a broad range of financial partners that recognize the vital importance of the revitalization of the urban core.

Fundraising Committee Members:
Chair — Frank Roberts

John Launer

Timothy Lehan
Mike Mooney

John Rey

Staff — Lindsey Engelsman

Celebrate Downtown Committee:
Celebrate Downtown is special committee of downtown business owners and stakeholders that are financially invested in the development of downtown Marketing and Special Events. Celebrate Downtown coordinate activities and special events that continue to bring more people downtown on a regular basis.

Celebrate Downtown Members:

Balcom-Vetillo Design

Blue Moon Balloon Company
Cracker Jax

Debutantes School of Cosmetology & Nail Technology

DeKalb County Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Confectionary
Ducky’s Formal Wear & Prom Shop
Eduardo’s & Rosita’s
Egyptian Theatre
Glass Gardens
Kid Stuff
The Lincoln Inn Family Restaurant & Bakery

Lavish Thrift

MCR Framing
Megan Morrison Home & Garden & Moxie
Mike Mooney —Mike Mooney Chevrolet Pontiac GMC Cadillac, INC
McCabe’s & Andy’s
My Faivret Things
National Bank & Trust

Paperback Grotto

Pilates Plus With Paula

RB Designs
Reyna’s Peluqueria
Sports of All Sorts
Stage Coach Players
Web Girl Web Designs
Womack Photography
Wrights Jewelry
Staff — Lindsey Engelsman

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Q:  Who are the Re:New DeKalb staff?

 

A:  The management of Re:New DeKalb is handled by a small staff of capable professionals.

 

Lindsey S. Engelsman is Re:New DeKalb’s Marketing and Special Events Coordinator. In this capacity, she works directly with downtown business and property owners to coordinate marketing, special events and other promotion of downtown DeKalb. Lindsey manages the creation and maintenance of effective marketing and promotional materials for the organization. One of Lindsey’s primary responsibilities is to work with downtown stakeholders to create Celebrate Downtown, a marketing and special events division of Re:New DeKalb. Celebrate Downtown is financed by contributions from downtown stakeholders and friends and provides the funding and administrative support for marketing and special events.

Email Lindsey at Lindsey@renewdekalb.com

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Q:  What is Re:New DeKalb’s relationship to the City of DeKalb?
A:  Re:New DeKalb coordinates with the City of DeKalb on a variety of key issues to ensure the successful implementation of the downtown revitalization.

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Q:  What is Re:New DeKalb’s role in the public improvements project?

A:  Re:New DeKalb is assisting in the implementation of a public improvements plan from First Street to Eleventh Street along East Lincoln Highway. Re:New DeKalb coordinates with downtown stakeholders and the City of DeKalb to provide direction on the plan and construction schedule. Re:New DeKalb participate in the project development, review and construction management of each public improvement project. Re:New DeKalb provides regular construction progress updates to the downtown and community at large.

Re:New DeKalb is also working with a committee of community members to enhance the public improvements to reflect DeKalb’s history and charm.

 

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Q: How is Re:New DeKalb funded?

A: Re:New DeKalb receives both public and private contributions. Two-thirds of our annual operating budget is funded by private contributions from community partners, business owners, residents, major corporations and local organization who care about downtown DeKalb along with special projects and grant funding. Additional funds are provided by the City of DeKalb for coordination and administrative services in support of various downtown programs.

 

 

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Q: Who are RNDK Financial Contributors?

A:  Re:New DeKalb’s long-term goal is to be entirely self-sufficient. To that end, the organization is in the second year of a multi-year private fundraising campaign.

Re:New DeKalb is pleased to be supported by a broad range of financial partners that recognize the vital importance of the revitalization of the urban core. The following are financial contributors to Re:New DeKalb and Celebrate Downtown.

Re:New DeKalb Partners:

Leader (10,000 and up)

Castle Bank

City of DeKalb

Lehan Drugs & Home Health Care

National Bank & Trust Company

 

Investor (5,000 to 9,999)

Kishwaukee Health System

Midwest Orthopaedic Institute

Shodeen Construction Company, L.L.C.

Waste Management

 

Builder (2,500 to 4,999)

Wendler Engineering

 

Sustainer (1,000 to 2,499)

Ameican National Bank

Resource Bank

 

Founder (500 to 999)

Brown Law Group

DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation

DeKalb County Builders Associatio

Kiwanis Club of DeKalb

 

Sponsor (250-499)

 

Contributor (100-249)

 

Celebrate Downtown Members:

Balcom-Vitello Design

Blue Moon Balloon Company/Out on a Whim
Cracker Jax
Daily Chronicle

DeKalb County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Debutantes School of Cosmetology & Nail Technology
The Confectionary
Ducky’s Formal Wear & Prom Shop
Eduardo’s & Rosita’s
Egyptian Theatre
Glass Gardens
Kid Stuff

Lavish Thrift
The Lincoln Inn Family Restaurant & Bakery
MCR Framing
Megan Morrison Home & Garden & Moxie
Mike Mooney Chevrolet Pontiac GMC Cadillac, INC
McCabe’s & Andy’s
My Faivret Things
National Bank & Trust

Paperback Grotto

Pilates Plus With Paula

RB Designs

Reyna’s Peluqueria
Sports of All Sorts
Stage Coach Players
Web Girl Web Designs
Womack Photography
Wrights Jewelry
Staff — Lindsey Engelsman

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