With one month to go on downtown Claremore’s Music on Main crowdfunding initiative, local businesses — as well as a national organization — will be doubling all donations for the final push.

More than $10,000 has been raised so far to bring music to the community’s core but more is needed to make the dream a reality.

All donations are appreciated. Donate online at http://bit.ly/MusicOnMainCMS. Donations will be raised through the St. Paddy’s Day Party on March 16.

“We had a lot of people – merchants and community members – come to us asking for music downtown. So we listened,” said Jessica Jackson, Claremore Main Street director. “We want to see the whole community get behind this project and help support it. Every dollar gets us that much closer.”

Fortunately, several local businesses have stepped up to the plate to support it as well. Every dollar donated will be doubled by a National Main Street Center grant through Feb. 15.

“Essentially, every dollar you donate gets us two dollars closer to our ultimate goal,” Jackson said. “Time is off the essence right now. The grant is expiring, and we don’t want to leave any free money on the table when we could use it to better our community.”

Following the grant, a donation by GRDA will match every dollar donated between Feb. 16 and Feb. 23.

At that time, a donation by the Claremore MoH (Museum of History) funds will double donations, followed by a week for the District on Main.

Finally, the last week of the project will see donations matched by RCB Bank. In January, the Downtown Claremore Merchant Association doubled donations.

“We are so thankful for our corporate sponsors, without whom this would not be possible,” Jackson said. “These businesses saw the vision and wanted to help the public make a bigger impact on this project.”

Once the project is funded, music will play along speakers on existing light poles up and down the three blocks of historic downtown Claremore during regular business hours and events. Music will be at a low volume as to not disturb conversations or those living downtown.

It’ll feature a variety of clean, radio-edits of songs, including but not limited to classic rock, adult contemporary, new hits and holiday music. Music also can be themed during the holidays or during Claremore events.

“We love seeing donations roll in from every corner of Claremore and beyond,” Jackson said. “People are really getting behind this.”

Given that the donation is going to a 501c3 nonprofit organization – Claremore Main Street – 100 percent of the donation is tax deductible.

Claremore Main Street is dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Claremore by promoting a healthy downtown economy, historic preservation and placemaking. The organization was established in 2002.

For more information, call Jackson at 918-341-5881 or email .

Claremore Main Street, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Claremore, is seeking community input as it develops a Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion Plan.

A short survey will allow Claremore and Rogers County residents to share how they currently interact with downtown Claremore – how often, why and when they come downtown – as well as what types of businesses, services and activities they’d like to see in the upcoming years.

[Access the survey here.]

“In beginning this new plan, we felt it was vital to hear from the public to ensure we create a downtown the community wants,” said Jessica Jackson, Claremore Main Street Executive Director. “The survey asks the right questions to help us gauge how downtown is used currently and how folks want to use it in the future.”

The 13-question survey should take individuals anywhere between 3-10 minutes to complete, depending on how much thought is given to some of the open-ended questions. The more specific the answers, the better, Jackson said.

“This is your chance to tell us what you want,” Jackson said. “In the next few years, we will take this plan to actively recruit new businesses, expand the downtown district and ensure that our current businesses remain successful.”

Main Street has been around since 2002 and has seen 86 new businesses open up and 185 new jobs created downtown. In all, more than $20.2 million dollars has been reinvested in downtown Claremore in the last 15 years.

The organization has a focus on economic vitality, historic preservation and placemaking and strives to secure downtown as the social and economic core of the community.

Claremore Main Street is seeking volunteer models and extras for a downtown photoshoot scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.

All are welcome to come be a part of the shoot, either as a “model,” meaning they’d like to be featured, or as an “extra,” those who want to participate but would rather be in the background. Children and pets also are welcome.

The photos will be taken by DroneWorks and will include people downtown, architecture shots and drone photography.

“We scheduled this photoshoot as a way to get new and fresh photos of our ever changing downtown,” said Jessica Jackson, director of Claremore Main Street. “We are happy to be working with a local photographer on this project.”

The photos will be used for marketing materials, including the organization’s website, advertisements, social media and brochures among others.

Volunteers should meet at the Claremore Main Street, 419 W. Will Rogers Blvd., at 3 p.m. for instructions and assignments. The entire shoot will be over by 6 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to stay as long as they can but are welcome to come-and-go as necessary to fit their schedules.

Additionally, volunteers are asked to dress in winter/fall attire without logos — with the exception of RSU or Claremore Zebra attire — trademarks or offensive language.

“All clothing should be deemed not offensive by the average person,” Jackson explained. “Basically, anything that is revealing or potentially controversial should be left at home.”

Volunteers are not required to RSVP but when possible should let the Main Street Director know by emailing if they intend to be there. In case of extreme cold or inclement weather, Jackson will notify everyone those she’s heard from and update their Facebook page if the shoot is postponed.

A second photoshoot is tentatively scheduled for June.

Claremore Main Street is dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Claremore. With a focus on economic vitality, historic preservation and placemaking, the organization strives to secure downtown as the social and economic core of the community.