East Side Committee hires consultant, launches website
By Lissa Greiner
The East Side School Development Committee is getting a second wind.
That's according to newly elected ESSDC Committee Chair Jack Hedstrom, who said the Committee recently launched a website, www.eastsideschool.org and hired the Sweeney Group from Madison, Wis.
Hedstrom said ESSDC has had some preliminary conversations with Jodi Sweeney of the Sweeney Group, which primarily assists nonprofit organizations with fund-raising. Bender-Sweeney told the group it should first work on laying out its programming for the proposed community arts and education center before it starts working on fundraising.
The Committee recently formed a number of sub-committees, including fund-raising, programming, building and business, communications, finance and records, and is looking for community members to volunteer.
About the website
Visitors to the website can view the Committee's mission statement and learn the "Story of East Side," which spans from its construction in 1897 to its closure in 1999, due to its failure to meet state fire code.
A section on renovation plans reveals the floor-by-floor architectural drawings created by Doug Steinmetz of Cedar Rapids.
The section on adaptive reuse allows website visitors to download a slideshow created by the Durrant Group, a consulting firm from Dubuque. In addition, this section of the website includes copies of submitted proposals for use of the space as well as programming ideas.
Each page includes links which direct visitors to contribution or volunteer forms.
"We're hoping this site will be a good place where we can disseminate some information and where people can learn about our progress," said Hedstrom.
