Under the umbrella of the Caledonia Development Authority, the village now has its first business association called the Caledonia Douglas Avenue Area Business Association.
The group — made up of businesses located on Douglas Avenue between 3 Mile and County Line roads — has met a few times to improve the corridor.
Lori Jensen, president of the association and owner of North Shore Animal Hospital, lives in Raymond. She bought the Douglas Avenue clinic several years ago, but didn’t feel like she had a voice in how the area developed.
“We’re still very much developing who and what we are,” Jensen said about the business association. “But I’m thrilled we have it because we haven’t had a voice in how this area develops because we pay taxes here.”
The group has talked about lobbying for more bus stops, how it could offer safety and CPR training, reduce the vacancy rates in the village, and encourage businesses to make improvements to their buildings.
“We’re still planning on what we’re going to do, but we also believe there should be opportunities for networking as well,” Jensen said.
The Caledonia Douglas Avenue Area Business Association meets at 8 a.m. the second Monday of the month at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave.
The Caledonia Development Authority is also looking at how best to brand and market the community. If you are interested in being part of that discussion, check out the village’s meeting schedule.
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