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How to Use Social Media and Community Involvement to Revitalize a Downtown

Feb 24, 2020

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast with host Jim Hunt we talk to 2018/2019 West Virginia  Mayor of the Year of Buckhannon, West Virginia, Dave McCauley about Downtown Revitalization, social media and community involvement.

 

Using Podcasting to build an Amazing City.

 

  • Why Buckhannon, West Virginia is a prize in the state
  • How to get community involvement to get increased involvement in the redevelopment of the city of Buckhannon, WV
  • How public art and the arts can be used to revitalize a community
  • How the “next big thing” credo builds community involvement
  • How to change an old alley into an Arts District to revitalize a downtown
  • How to utilize your local celebrities to build ‘Zing’ in your community
  • The impact of social media and building your community involvement
  • How to utilize social media as a source of positive and transparent information
  • You don’t need to be a techno guru to utilize social media effectively and consistently but here’s the secret
  • What to do with an old dilapidated building in your historic downtown with a limited budget.
  • How to handle the ‘Eeyores’ (critics and negative individuals) in your community.

 

 

Special Mentions:

 

  • Buckhannon, WV

 

7 Steps to an Amazing City:

  1. Attitude
  2. Motivation
  3. Attention to Detail
  4. Zing
  5. Inclusiveness
  6. Neighborhood Empowerment
  7. Green Awareness

 

Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

 

Links Mentions During Show:

 

About David McCauley:

 

Current Term: 2016 – 2020

 

Previous service to City Council: McCauley served as the City Attorney from June 1, 1983- to June 30, 2015.

 

EDUCATION:  B.A., WVU (1980); J.D., WVU (1983)

 

POLITICAL: Since being elected as Mayor on May 10, 2016, several important initiatives have been undertaken, including removal of the platform in Council chambers, reopening of the Public Safety Complex parking lot, the College Avenue sidewalk project, the Trader’s Alley/Milkman Lane project, the First of July celebration, the Bicentennial celebration, exterior improvements to the Public Safety Complex, grant awards or applications to realize the Gateway West and River Walk Trail project extensions, recognition of many persons in our community for having accomplished great things, addiction & recovery initiatives, greeted first event sponsored by B-U Pride (LGBTQ) Group, Stockert Youth Center improvements, water & sewer system improvements, sustainability initiatives, embracement of the wildflower project, opened the City dog park, acquired the Colonial Theatre, started Truck Fest, the Hope And Help Assembly (HAHA), Fall Fest, & many other projects & initiatives.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROFESSIONAL/LEGAL CAREER:  West Virginia Wesleyan College (1983-present) Professor & General Legal Counsel, Director MBA Program (1994-99); well more than 100 former students are now Bar members.  Buckhannon City Attorney for more than 32 years.  As City Atty. drafted 200 ordinances; facilitated Walmart & Lowes establishing stores in Buckhannon; instrumental in the development of City’s Public Safety Complex & River Trail; presenter WV Municipal League annual convention “Ethics in Municipal Government.”

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:  Orchestrated City’s acquisition & operation of Stockert Youth Center; facilitated grassroots citizen effort to pass series of school levies in Upshur County; Co-founder of Upshur Community Alcohol Reduction Effort (UCARE, 2008); Past Pres. Buckhannon Lions; Past Pres. of the Buckhannon Main Street Project; Past VP Upshur United Way; Past Bd. Member WV Strawberry Festival & B-U Work Adjustment Ctr.; honored in April of 2013 by West Virginia State Bar as a Bar Fellow, the award bestowed “upon lawyers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession.”  Currently a member of WV Municipal League Board of Directors.

 

OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION:  Native of Wheeling, WV; son of Patricia and David A. McCauley; wife Cathy; daughter Ashley & son Connor; stepchildren Brianna, Kelsey, & Brandin; grandchildren Colten, Casen, Keslyn, Gianna, Anthony, & Braylee.

 

About Your Host, Jim Hunt:

Welcome to the “Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast” … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.

 

Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of “Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too” and his latest book, “The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City”

 

Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.

 

Today, Jim speaks to 1000’s of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.

 

Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.

 

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