Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events Marketing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DID approves Black Friday Shop‑Local campaign, NexMark event grants and fall purchase orders
Summary
The board approved a Black Friday marketing campaign run by NexMark, authorized NexMark event grants for Light Up the Night and Fresh Fridays, and approved several short‑term purchase orders for fall marketing and services.
The Downtown Improvement District Board on Sept. 4 authorized marketing funding and event grants aimed at boosting merchant traffic for the fall and holiday season. The board approved a strategic marketing allocation, capped advertising spending for a Black Friday campaign, and authorized NexMark‑related grants and short‑term purchase orders.
NexMark representatives Travis Cornwell and JT Brownell presented a Discover Downtown Shop Local/Black Friday campaign that would run from Oct. 1 through Nov. 28 with digital and print advertising, social media content, merchant toolkits and a landing page listing participating merchants and deals. The Chamber of Commerce discussed partnering by providing ambassadors on the street and co‑promoting the campaign.
Votes at a glance • Strategic marketing services: board approved use of existing strategic/marketing project funds (account listed in packet) to pay for creative development, social management and PR; motion passed by voice vote. • Advertising cap for Black Friday campaign: board approved a maximum advertising budget of up to $8,000 (estimate range $5,000–$8,000) to be paid from the DID advertising account; motion passed. • Public‑realm activation grant — Light Up the Night: board authorized a $15,000 grant agreement with NexMark and authorized the chair to sign the agreement; motion passed. • Public‑realm activation grant — Fresh Fridays Season 5: board authorized a $92,000 grant for event production, approved a schedule change to exhibit B (move a February date to State Street) and authorized the chair to sign; motion passed. • Short‑term marketing & communications purchase order: staff was authorized to issue a purchase order to NexMark for marketing/communications services covering October–December at a stated monthly rate of $4,900; staff and directors treated the three‑month encumbrance as not to exceed $14,700 (3 × $4,900) while procurement completes a longer contract.
Board discussion included campaign tactics — merchant signups via a web form, QR codes, influencer posts, boosted social ads, a merchant toolkit, and an idea for a stamped bag/guide and prize raffle to drive foot traffic. Directors also discussed using chamber ambassadors and a DJ or live music on key streets to draw shoppers.
Several purchase orders and allocations were also described for seasonal services, including flower baskets and landscape maintenance; those items were presented for board direction and expected purchase orders, though not all were finalized at the Sept. 4 meeting.
The board instructed staff to proceed with contracted services and instructed Julie to finalize purchase orders and agreements so vendors can begin work by Oct. 1.
