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City unveils interactive retail map and QR-code sticker plan to highlight Soledad businesses
Summary
The city’s economic development coordinator presented a live, interactive retail and commercial map developed with a Hartnell College intern; plans include housing the map on the city website, distributing QR-code stickers and laminated cards at storefronts and EV charging stations, and supporting shop-local campaigns.
Tensee Vargas, the City of Soledad’s economic development coordinator, introduced a live, interactive retail and commercial map designed to increase visibility for local businesses and encourage residents and visitors to shop locally. The map was developed with intern Alejandro Medina Ruiz through the Hartnell College Career and Transfer Hub internship program.
Alejandro demonstrated the interactive web map (satellite basemap) showing business points across town—Gavilan Plaza, Front Street and Soledad Marketplace—with category filters and pop-up cards containing business name, category and address. He showed how staff can add or edit features instantly and how bookmarked views can focus the map on specific commercial clusters. Vargas said the city intends to host the tool on the economic development or community pages of the city website and distribute marketing materials: laminated 5x7 cards in the short term and smaller stickers with QR codes to place at storefronts in subsequent phases. Vargas described three sticker mockups and asked for council feedback on design, font and Spanish-language accessibility.
Council members asked about Spanish-language versions, accessibility for non-tech-savvy residents, font readability and inclusion of city facilities (police, gateway center). Alejandro and Vargas said the map includes public restrooms, city hall and gateway center and can be updated to include district overlays or district labels in future iterations. Vargas said the first phase is targeted for the holiday season, will be low-cost (under $200 for initial printed materials excluding staff time), and that the intern’s time was supported through the Hartnell internship partnership.
No action was required; council supported the project and provided design direction (choice of sticker design, request for accessible font and Spanish-language materials). Vargas said staff will proceed to finalize the sticker and printing plan, translate materials as needed and place laminated cards at downtown and shopping centers for immediate public use.
