BERLIN – A variety of changes are in store for the Berlin Visitor Center as the town’s new economic development director begins to make her presence known.
In late December, Economic Development Director Ivy Wells moved her office from the building behind town hall to the visitor center on Main Street. Now that she’s there, she’s got plans for a number of improvements.
“I wanted it to be more attractive,” Wells said. “I’ve been consulting with our volunteers to find out what visitors really want.”
Adding a window display to the previously bare front of the building was the first task she accomplished. The next project she has planned is to create a revolving history exhibit for the visitor center. She says it would give out-of-towners a glimpse of the town’s history even when the Taylor House Museum was closed. Wells wants to set up a different exhibit each month.
“Just something to give people a reason to come to the visitor center,” she said.
Wells is also going to begin putting together a newsletter outlining town events. She wants to set up a laptop in the visitor center and give guests who add their email address to the town’s mailing list a free bumper sticker.
“We’re always going to have some kind of promotion going on,” she said.
Wells is going to begin hosting contests and games that would give people a chance to win Berlin-themed merchandise.
“Those are walking ads,” she said, pointing to a rack of Berlin T-shirts.
This summer, Wells says she’s going to set up tables outside the visitor center with games of chess and checkers for people who want to take a break from shopping.
Wells even has plans for the rows of rack cards and brochures set up in the building. She wants to replace the stacks of paper with little displays representing each downtown business.
“When you look at a row of rack cards, it can be so intimidating,” she said.
As for the office space in the back of the Berlin Visitor Center — space that was once used for artist studios — Wells plans to clean it up so it can again be leased to interested individuals.
One office is already occupied by Jim Volk, the director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, while another is set to be filled by Sharon Timmons later this month. Timmons will leave her position as administrative assistant in town hall to begin serving as Wells’ assistant.
As a newcomer to the area, Wells says she’s looking forward to working with someone who’s familiar with the town.
“I’m the new girl and she’s been here a while,” Wells said. “She and I will work well together.”
As the year progresses and she and Timmons settle into their offices in the visitor center, Wells said they will work on increasing activity there. In addition to keeping the facility open late during town events, she wants to get more young people interested in the town through offering service learning opportunities at the visitor center.