Jan Minami, Principal and Founder
Minami has focused on building vibrant Downtowns and cities through district formation, place activation and business development for over 30 years. She is currently working with business and property owners in California’s Central Valley to form improvement districts, a key revitalization tool.
Her Experience
REEDLEY Minami founded Jasmin Printing and operated it successfully for 11 years, providing printing, design and marketing services. At that time, she became actively involved in Downtown Reedley revitalization as a volunteer leader of both the Downtown Association board and the Streetscape Commission board.
VISALIA Intrigued by the dynamics of public-private engagement, Minami sold her printing company and moved into the Downtown leadership field, where she led business and property owner organizations in Visalia, California. She was adept at bridging the gap between the public and private sectors, creating projects that relied on collaboration to succeed. Her range of accomplishments include a collaborative strategic plan uniting business owners, property owners and the city, a popular new music festival and improved business practices.
FRESNO Ms. Minami next took on the challenge of a complete turnaround in Downtown Fresno, gathering stakeholders to rescue a dying business organization, improve support of local businesses and create strong foundations for events and community involvement. She spearheaded the formation of a business improvement district (PBID), and its successful launch in January 2011.
CONSULTING After laying the groundwork for revitalization in Downtown Fresno, Minami founded AMI Concepts to provide strategic solutions for cities, agencies and organizations. She relies on her knowledge of the partnerships necessary to stabilize thriving communities, assuring all goals are achievable, measurable and innovative. Her focus includes improvement districts and special projects in the public/private realm.
CREDENTIALS Minami has a BS in Business Administration from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She is certified in Business Retention and Expansion through the International Council on Economic Development, Grant Writing and Management through CSU Fresno, Engaging Citizens – A Game Changer for Development through the World Bank and Graphic Design through the California Institute for the Arts. Through conferences and webinars, she expands her education regularly.
RECENT PROJECTS
- Downtown Selma – business-based BID
- Downtown Kingsburg – business-based BID
- Chinatown Fresno Partnership – district organization and program development
- Shaw Corridor Partnership – stakeholder engagement and PBID formation
- Food Commons Fresno – trust development, finance and HR formulation
- Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panels as a Downtown revitalization and place activation specialist
- Downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Tucson, Arizona
- Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Pathways to Rural Economic Progress – San Joaquin Valley grant – consultant to CSU Fresno Office of Community and Economic Development
The Team
Specialists are added to the AMI Concepts team as needed for specific projects.