The Caledonia Douglas Avenue Business Association has chosen a mission statement and is now starting to work on several projects to help promote area businesses.C
Under the umbrella of the Caledonia Development Authority, the Caledonia Douglas Avenue Area Business Association started in February. The group chose the mission statement from a list of five. The new mission statement reads: “In partnership with the Village of Caledonia, we work to promote and attract business to the Douglas Avenue Business Corridor.”
“We played with a lot of different ones,” said Lori Jensen, president of the association. “This is not set in stone, but I like it because it’s simple.”
The group hopes to have more businesses get involved in projects, including CPR and fire extinguisher training, beautification projects, and pulling together different resource lists that help promote area businesses. Village president Bob Bradley said they need to focus more on getting the word out to area businesses.
“But I think you are showing progress,” Bradley said. “You are doing some good stuff here. We just need to get the word out more.”
Kevin Milaeger, owner of Miiaeger’s landscaping and nursery, is spearheading a project to put flower plants in front of area businesses to help beautify the area and bring more attention to businesses. But they need more participation from area businesses to make these  projects effective.
“We know the planters beautify the area in a uniform way,” he said.
Milaeger plans to put together a formal quote, but he said the planters range  in sizes and prices. The group is looking for ways to pay for the planters that may include getting grants and money from the village to help defray the cost of the planters to the business owners.
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.