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City highlights community programs: ‘Rainier Rush’ holiday passport and ‘Extraordinary Women’ nominations
Summary
City staff reported on the successful Rainier Rush scavenger-hunt program that drove foot traffic to downtown businesses and announced the return of the 'Tehachapi Extraordinary Women' nomination process ahead of Women's History Month.
City staff updated the council on two community engagement programs: the Rainier Rush holiday scavenger-hunt and the Tehachapi Extraordinary Women nomination campaign.
Jessica Garner, who ran the Rainier Rush program, said the promotion launched Nov. 29 with 28 participating businesses and a passport-style scavenger book that encouraged customers to find reindeer tokens in local shops. The city distributed more than 200 passports and received 108 back; staff tallied roughly 2,029 visits by counting stamps and reported that more than half of returned passports had 20 or more stamps. Staff said participating businesses reported sales boosts and that organizers distributed six gift baskets, each won by children under 13.
Separately, staff announced the return of the Tehachapi Extraordinary Women recognition program for Women’s History Month in March. The program solicits nominations for residents who live, work or volunteer in Tehachapi; staff said they have already received more than 40 nominations shortly after opening the nomination period and expect a selection committee — which included Mayor Pro Tem Powell last year — to convene and choose awardees.
Council members and staff described Rainier Rush as a low-cost economic driver that connected shoppers with businesses in obscure downtown locations and encouraged repeating the program next year. Staff also asked for committee members to help evaluate Extraordinary Women nominations.
