Downtown Racine Corporation
We are the Downtown Racine Corporation
Our mission is to foster economic, social, and cultural diversity by stimulating business development, programming events, and marketing downtown to the community, developers, and tourists. It is our vision that Downtown Racine, with its scenic lakefront and historic Main Street, is the true heart and economic engine of our community; a vibrant and diverse destination to live, shop, explore, and conduct business.
We are a 501(c)3 that works hard every day to make Downtown Racine a vibrant and engaging place to live, work and play. We manage the day-to-day economic development efforts, improve the environment and aesthetics, market downtown to residents and tourists and activate downtown with programmed events. In 2018 Racine became one of over forty designated Wisconsin Main Street Communities which offers access to a wide variety of educational resources, training and tools designed to further our revitalization initiatives.
Downtown Racine Corporation is the only organization that is 100% committed and responsible to a thriving and vibrant downtown.
DOWNTOWN IN THE NEWS
We’ve had some great press in the news lately.
Community Newsletter: Downtown Racine Corp. (journaltimes.com)
Grand opening (journaltimes.com)
Hearts of ice | Chili Ice Walk takes place Downtown (journaltimes.com)
Downtown Racine sees small business growth (spectrumnews1.com)
Downtown Racine Corp. looks back at year’s achievements, announces future tasks (journaltimes.com)
DRC’s Recent Accomplishments:
- Helped foster huge downtown business growth, 23 in 2019, 10 in 2020 and 33 new businesses in both 2021 and 2022. In total Downtown Racine is home to more than 100 restaurants, pubs, retail shops and galleries and 3 museums.
- Host to 70+ free events in 2022 which brought over 32,500 people to Downtown Racine.
- Is a designated WI Main Street Community and designated as an affiliate Main Street America™ program by the National Main Street Center.
- One of the only communities in the Nation that has hosted a public art project for 21 consecutive years.
Chairman
Tim Mason, Express Personnel
Vice Chairman
Austin Schultz, Plumb Gold and Plumb Silver
Secretary
Tricia Blasko, Racine Art Museum
Treasurer
Barry Fries, Johnson Financial
Member at Large
John Rooney, Commissioner DPW, City of Racine
Jeff Coe, 1st District Alderman
Ashley Staeck, The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread
Devon Borst, All Saints Foundation
Anna LeGath, Joey’s Yardarm
Dan Oakes, Dover Flag & Map and Oakes Construction
Tamara LoPiparo, The Maple Table
Marci Bruley, Marci’s on Main
Ralph Malicki, Malicki’s Piggly Wiggly
Tim Ryan, Mt. Royal Investment Group
Shane Ryan, Mt. Royal Investment Group
Eric Dogans, 2Swift Suits
Michael O’Connor – Hotel Verdant
Michelle Sweetman – SC Johnson (Main St. Chair)
Dimple Navratil – Dimples Imports (Business Support Chair)
Corey Coleman – Plush, Be Plush
Casey Morgenson, Racine County
CONTACT INFORMATION
Executive Director
Kelly Kruse
Email: Kelly Kruse
Public Relations & Office Manager
Lisa Shockley
Email: Lisa Shockley
General Information
events@racinedowntown.com
VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER
Downtown Racine Corporation Office
425 Main Street, (262) 634-6002
Volunteer
Please email: events@racinedowntown.com with name and phone number.