It was announced Monday that plans are in action to merge two downtown groups, the Campustown Business Group (CBG) and the Champaign Downtown Association (CDA).

The two organizations, along with the city of Champaign and the Champaign Park District have started meeting to talk about the merge to work together with marketing strategies and to share resources, said a press release.

The CDA’s mission is to create the best experience for those in Downtown Champaign. With a board of directors, staff and volunteers the association works on promoting and supporting downtown events.

Trisha Sutton, president of CDA said that although different, the two organizations share a similar need.

The CBG has volunteers who work on marketing efforts with Campustown retailers, for example Thirteen Thursdays during the summer.

According to the press release, both groups work with business owners and retailers to attract customers to their respective geographical areas.

“The merger will allow for a more professional approach to marketing both areas,” Jill Guth, CBG chair said. “The new group will hire full time staff to work with the two distinctive areas and customize marketing plans to meet their respective needs. The marketing will be geared to the local community as well as visitors and students to the area.”

Guth said if the groups merge, a new governing board will be created that is comprised of representatives from both groups. From that, two divisions would be formed; one for Campustown and one for Downtown. Then subcommittees would be made based on individual needs and an executive director will be hired and a new office set up somewhere between Campustown and Downtown.

Sutton is excited about this opportunity because she thinks it will build new opportunities.

“The CDA has talked about combining with someone for a while and we have discussed a lot of different options,” Sutton said. “We will jump on this opportunity now that it has come up because it will help both areas grow.”

Craig Rost, Deputy City Manager for Development said that the city had money budgeted for promotion that would be used for the creation of this new organization. He said that once in its full, the organization would be self supporting.

“This is a good idea for two main reasons,” Rost said.

One reason was there not being enough funding to support both organizations at such a time when the areas are becoming centers of commerce for businesses, entertainment and residency. The other is that once the Boneyard Creek Second Street Reach Project that the city is completed this year, the city will begin working on developing the “Mid Town” area which covers ground around Second and First streets that is not covered by either organization.

“It’s hard to predict what exactly we will redevelop but this new ‘Mid Town’ area will have housing, commercial and entertainment developments that this new organization would be able to represent,” Rost said.

He said that a firm decision will likely happen within the next 45 days and the paperwork should be filled out in the next 90 days.

“There will always be a little friction when combining two boards but this is for the best,” Rost said. “We need to come to the realization that the venues in these two areas are what brings people here and we need events and promotions to be taken to the next level for a successful community.”

He added that they have spoken to many business owners who support the merge.

“There will be challenges, but everyone is very excited and on board to work with one another,” Sutton said.