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EDA reviews Experience Harmony projects, pauses EV charging plans and hears Chamber report
Summary
The EDA reviewed Experience Harmony goals, decided not to pursue installing an electric-vehicle charging station now, and heard a Chamber of Commerce report on 125th anniversary planning, Visitor Center operations, and marketing metrics.
The Harmony EDA spent significant time on community projects and marketing at its March 5 meeting, reviewing Experience Harmony goals, advertising and visitor initiatives, and the Chamber of Commerce director’s report.
Board members asked staff to check on the placement and winter storage status of Main Street recycling receptacles. Staff summarized findings on electric-vehicle charging stations, including vendor options and potential grants; while the board agreed EV charging is an attractive idea for community marketing, members concluded the costs, uncertain usage and rapidly changing technology made immediate installation inadvisable.
Staff also presented the first monthly report on the community marketing video campaign (Feb. 1–March 1, 2020). Three Facebook ad variations and one YouTube ad ran: Facebook ads reached 10,496 people and generated 257 clicks to the chamber landing page, while the YouTube ad reached 29,101 people, was viewed 13,323 times and produced 107 clicks. One Facebook ad was paused by Facebook for being miscategorized.
Chamber Director Melissa Vander Plas reported the 125th-anniversary plans are underway; the Visitor Center will open weekends beginning April 1; a ribbon-cutting for Crate & Barrel is set for March 27; the chamber is hiring an assistant; and Explore Minnesota grant paperwork resulted in $5,942 in ad reimbursements. The chamber is preparing Fourth of July fundraising T-shirts and continuing membership outreach and event planning.
