It's Spring Clean-up time!
Time to put on our happy spring face downtown.
8am to12 on Saturday May 4th
We need volunteers to blow the dust off, pull the weeds up and sweep the debris away in our downtown. If we all pull together, it can happen in a flash. VDA will provide the refreshments!
We will meet at Turtle Place. Bring your tools and your can-do attitude. It will save a ton of time if you pre-register your willingness with SOLV.
Are you with us? Click here to sign up:
http://www.solv.org/get-involved/events/dt-vancouver-spring-cleanup
Social Marketing that Works
Two Workshops for Social Media and Your Business
Our Experts:
Noland Hoshino
Co-Founder, Bcause Media
BcauseMedia.com
Michael Perozzo
Founder, ZZoom Media
zzoommedia.com
Sponsored by Vancouver's Downtown Association and The Uptown Village Association. With special thanks to the Vancouver Community Library for their support. Workshops take place at the Vancouver Community Library, Columbia Room at 901 C Street Vancouver, WA 98660.
Session 1: May 9th 8-9AM
25 Facebook Marketing Tactics for Local Businesses to Amplify their Message
Session 2: June 13th 8-9AM
Staking Your Claim on Search Engines: Make Social Media Platforms Work For You
There is no charge to attend. There will be a jar at the door to collect donations in support of our flower basket program if you would like to show your appreciation.
RSVP required. Please email us at admin@vdausa.org
Indicate if you will be attending session 1, session 2, or BOTH
Vancouver's Downtown Association Gives Special Kudos to Eight Downtown Game Changers
VDA Awards Breakfast highlights positive change in City Center
Valentine's Day being the perfect day to celebrate good things happening in the heart of the city, VDA members and supporters gathered this morning at the Hilton Hotel to hear an annual report of projects completed as well as plans for the future. Additionally, eight Game Changer awards were given to winners chosen by public vote in specific categories. Former Mayor Royce Pollard was on hand to help with the announcements and celebration.
1. Game Changer Award for outstanding façade improvements went to Bill Leigh for his transformation of the Salon Moxie +Angst +Niche +Kiggins Theater spaces.
2. Game Changer 'Cash Register Ringer Event' went to the event at which people said they are most likely to spend money in a downtown business. This went to VDA's First Friday Artwalk. .
3. Carl Dobbs Award for outstanding VDA volunteer was awarded to Lee Coulthard.
4. Game Changer Downtown Visionary Award was awarded to Jan Oliva for her leadership to get a world class library in our city center.
5. Game Changer Peoples' Choice for Favorite Event was awarded to the Vancouver Farmers Market.
6. Game Changer Golden Broom Award went to the storefront that is most consistently tidy and well-cared for. Leah Jackson received this for Niche.
7. Albina Fuel Award for outstanding corporate partner was awarded to Columbia Credit Union for supporting our efforts to put LED lights on trees, ridgelines, and on art.
8. Game Changer favorite new business award went to the Mighty Bowl.
Additionally, VDA was very pleased to announce that it has developed a way to help downtown hotel visitors and others find the special places that the locals wouldn't want them to miss!
Table tents have been designed to be placed in hotel rooms as well as other waiting areas in local businesses featuring special QR codes. These pieces will take the user to VDA's events calendar, downtown walking map, and to several articles that tout the uniqueness and quality of life found in our downtown.
VDA has added a new section to our website to house these materials.
www.vdausa.org/enjoy has printable options for each of the categories. VDA further plans to submit these articles to various lifestyle publications. Consultant Ron Arp (Amplify!) said, "The job of marketing boils down to 'see it/say it/sell it'. We could see that there was an exciting story to tell. We now have the product in place that will clearly SAY it. Now, we just have to 'sell it'. These pieces will be a great way to introduce visitors and natives alike to the ever-growing options in our downtown and why this is such a special place."
Block 10 Gets a New Face
Come see what businesses used to be on the block 'back in the day'. Talk with those who are working on the project to learn more about their vision. Enjoy a Tommy O party O…and mingle with friends and neighbors as we celebrate this temporary project that will link our downtown together, tell the stories of who was here and who will be here, and set the stage for this block's future.
Read all about the volunteer project that helped get the project going on Oregon Live.
Main Street Tax Incentive Program is calling ...will you answer?
Want to help your favorite downtown and get a big tax credit at the same time?
Well of course you do...Learn more here.
Every year, VDA relies on our neighbors and partners for funding support through the Main Street Tax Incentive Program. Thank you Partners- we couldn't do it without you!!
Discovering downtown's story
Portland Consultant Michele Reeves of Civilis Consultants was back for her second project with Vancouver's Downtown Association.
Her assignment was to figure out what 'Downtown Vancouver' means to its stakeholders, its neighbors, and its visitors.
Why does this matter? It's the basis of how Vancouver's Downtown Association will strategize its recruiting efforts, celebrate what is good, and take steps to address what could be stronger.
Reeves' findings are based on three significant approaches to 'mining the opinions' from a very broad sampling of participants over a several month period. Here's a link to her report.
Clean & Safe Downtown
A program to Improve storefronts, lighting, and fostering a cleaner and safer downtown!
What is the Clean & Safe Downtown Program?
Established through a City of Vancouver Community Development Block Grant and in support of Vancouver's City Center Vision, qualifying businesses and property owners can apply for a cash loan or grant mix for facade improvements and projects to increase visibility into and out of street level space.
Funds can be used for lighting under awnings, inside display windows and on trees adjacent to the property. Enhancements like these will foster a cleaner and safer downtown community. Interested in learning more?
Vancouver Business Resource
Connect with a mentor, register for a workshop, find the networing group you've been looking for, or learn what you didn't know you didn't know.
I love Downtown!!
VDA thinks that the best way for our downtown's story to be told is to give the mic to the people who are living it up close and personal. Business is booming! We love the diversity that our downtown has.
First, watch this video. Then contact Lee Rafferty at the VDA office director@vdausa.org and see how the Downtown Retail Strategy Team (one of VDA's hardworking committees) can help answer your questions and show you the opportunities that exist here.
If you are thinking about expanding, relocating, or starting a new business- Downtown Vancouver could be just what you're looking for.
There are so many reason to run a business in downtown, click here to learn more.
Walka Walka Walking Map
Click here to download the latest downtown walking map and see what you've been missing.
Downtown