MOSES LAKE - After dedicating almost five years of working to improve Moses Lake's downtown business district, Moses Lake Business Association's Marianne Kirwan announced she is resigning as the organization's executive director.

Kirwan said her last day with the association is Feb. 28. She said MLBA expects to have a new executive director in place by the end of this month.

Kirwan said she will move to Get Rich Quick Properties in Moses Lake and get back in the real estate industry.

She first joined the association about five years ago, when the group was looking for someone to head MLBA full-time.

"I was in real estate at the time, but it sounded like a really neat opportunity," she said. "And I loved everything about it."

Kirwan said she enjoyed working with various groups in the city, including the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, Vision 20/20 and the Grant County Economic Development Council. Sharing similar goals of wanting to improve Moses Lake made it easier to come up with and implement various programs.

"I've just met so many people from downtown businesses and other groups in the city," she said. "I've worked with a huge cross section of Moses Lake and it's just been a lot of fun."

She said she will miss interacting with friends she's made over the years when she leaves the association.

"But I'll still be downtown, I'll still be out there shopping and seeing what's going on," said Kirwan.

Kirwan said she is proud of the progress MLBA members have made over the past few years.

The association currently has about 100 volunteer members. They work year-round on MLBA projects including the annual Ag Parade, the street tree lighting event, citywide cleanups and the Halloween trick or treat event.

The group also hangs seasonal banners in LakeTown Landing and maintains flower pots downtown, she said.

"We've seen a lot happen," she said. "We also finished the big kiosk project and put up about 10 kiosks throughout Moses Lake."

The kiosks were placed at various places around town, and highlight important information for visitors and community members alike, she said.

MLBA members also have made the Basin BBQ Bash an annual tradition for Moses Lake residents, said Kirwan.

"It's a fun addition to fall activities," she said. "Kids are back in school, everyone is back in town and they need something to do."

With the association celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year, Kirwan said she is glad the group continues to work on revitalizing the city's downtown business district.

MLBA became a formal organization in 1993, she said, after a group of downtown merchants wanted to work on ways to get people to visit Moses Lake's downtown shops.

Kirwan said while the association is made up of downtown Moses Lake merchants, the work the group does isn't just for the benefit of those same downtown businesses.

"Our goal is to bring people to our downtown and to revitalize our downtown," she said. "But if you have a thriving downtown then the quality of life for the entire community is better."

Kirwan said if more dollars are spent at local shops and restaurants, then more dollars stay in Moses Lake. Those extra dollars can make a big difference in the community, she said.

Having a thriving downtown district also improves the city's image to companies and industries looking to set up shop in Moses Lake, said Kirwan.

"Organizations who are thinking of locating to our area don't just look at cheap power or cheap this or that," she said. "They also look at what quality of life would be for their employees."

Companies might look at what activities are offered in an area, how many parks and outdoor recreation spots there are and what services are available, she said.

"All that might make the difference between them picking Moses Lake or picking another community to put their facility in," said Kirwan.

Kirwan said she hopes the downtown district continues to grow over the next few years. Although a few buildings downtown are currently vacant, she said she is confident new businesses will eventually fill them.

"We've had a few people retire so there's a couple of empty buildings, but they always fill back up," she said. "It seems like they don't stay empty for long."

Kirwan said the different types of businesses that are now downtown is evidence the area will likely continue to see progress.

"We've got some restaurants down there, new stores, a ballet academy and a place for people to exercise," said Kirwan. "It's not just shopping anymore, there's a little bit of everything down there."

She said she also hopes to see more activities in downtown Moses Lake over the next few years.

"What I find is that by us having events down there, it reminds people to get downtown," said Kirwan.