Downtown Blackstone Inc.
P.O. Box 417
Blackstone, VA 23824
434-292-3041

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Promotions

This element of the Main Street Approach™ deals with marketing the district’s assets to residents,
visitors, investors and others through special events, retail promotion and activities that improve the way the district is perceived.

The Promotion Committee has the job of promoting downtown as the center of commerce, culture and community life for residents and visitors alike. To be effective this committee must move beyond cookie-cutter downtown promotion ideas. Specifically:

 

Chairperson: vacant

Committee Members:
Francis Gilmore

Sara Ryan-Gilmore
Field Green
Lucia Malon

Sheila Matthews
Fred Crowley

SO FAR IN 2010

The Promotions Committee will organize notebooks with details from each event it undertakes that can be handed down from year to year as committee members change. They are putting together a calendar of events that will encompass the entire community so that it can be put on the DBi website. Plans are in the works for a Fly-in at Ft. Pickett and a Car Show downtown possibly paired with a home furnishing event. We are involving Walter Mac Osborne, Bobby Daniels, Louis DeNitto, Bill Wilkerson Jr. and others for input on the details of a successful car show.

 

PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Met on Friday, April 17th

The upcoming cleanup of the town on Saturday, May 9th was a big topic of discussion. A prize will be awarded from among the registrants. The "Spot the Cougar" contest was brought up and we shared ideas on how to carry it out. Benchmark has donated $200 toward the contest and we will redeem them in the form of "downtown dollars" redeemable at businesses in the district to the first person that spots the Cougar which will be moved from business to business each week. As we look at a full slate of activities to promote the town, sponsorship levels were mentioned as a way merchants could support specific activities or the complete calendar of activities. We brainstormed the list of perks and extra value that we could provide for their sponsorships.

May 15th

The Committee met and discussed a draft sponshorship Program for DBi. The Director was tasked with polling other Virginia Main Street communities to find out what they are doing and a committee member will look these over for ideas.

The Spot the Cougar Contest was initiated and flyers drafted along with entry forms and gift certificates. Volunteers were drafted for manning the upcoming Cruise-in.

June 26

Sara Ryan announced her decision to step down as committee chairman. The cougar has travelled to a total of 4 different locations so far and we have awarded four winners their $25 gift certificates! A list of activities that requires volunteers was distributed and a Blackstone for the Arts wine tasting and art exhibit was proposed. Other discussions included establishing an ongoing Concert Series starting off with local talent. It was proposed that the event be named "Downtown After Sundown" and include Blackstone Idol where we could feature local talent. Also it was discussed that we should plan a celebration of the completion of the Block grant project later in the fall at its conclusion.

August 21st

Amy Haynes officially accepted the post as chairperson of the committee. E-mails will be sent out the the volunteers for the Ice Cream Booth and contacts will be made to secure the diary product for the soft serve ice cream machine. Assignments were made to cover all needed setup items related to the DBi booth.

Grace McDonald was mentioned as a point person willing to head up the planning committee to get the Chamber and DBi working together as well as other organizations in the effort to set up the Holiday Open House this year. Also discussed was Parade plans and the Grand illumination and activities that can be initiated along with those events to further enhance them.



 

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