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MARKETING & OUTREACH
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IMAGE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN |
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 In
2000, the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority
(SDRA) launched Greater Downtown Savannah’s first
comprehensive image campaign. With guidance from the
SDRA Promotions and Image Development Committee and
through partnerships with the Downtown Business Association,
Savannah College of Art
and Design and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
and Montgomery Street Business Association, SDRA developed
a campaign slogan and logo which have been used in radio,
television and print media designed to attract day-trippers
and locals to shop, dine and tour Greater Downtown.
Along with co-op advertising opportunities, SDRA developed
image promotions kits to encourage local businesses to
participate in the campaign. The image promotions kits
included camera-ready logo slicks, sample advertisements
with the logo and slogan and sample radio commercial text.
Static stickers of the Greater Downtown Logo can be seen
throughout Greater Downtown promoting unity and continuity
among businesses.
In
2002-03, SDRA launched a campaign to highlight the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Montgomery Street Corridor
(Corridor). The campaign is aimed at targeting property
investment, encouraging business opportunities and attracting
shoppers to the Corridor. A four-color brochure and
television commercial illustrate the theme. The City
of Savannah Public Information Office partnered with
SDRA in this project to produce the 30-second commercial
currently running on the government channel and on a
rotational basis on Comcast Cable television stations.
In recent months, the theme has grown to represent all
of Greater Downtown.
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KIOSK PROGRAM |
 In
the early 1990s, Broughton Street underwent comprehensive
streetscape enhancements adding new sidewalks, ornamental
lampposts, pedestrian crosswalks and trees. As a part
of this effort, power poles were removed as unsightly
utility lines were placed underground. To house the
utility components of the lighting, six informational
kiosks were placed along the southern side of Broughton
Street. As part of the work plan included in the Update
To the 1986 Broughton Street Urban Redevelopment Plan,
SDRA has partnered with the City of Savannah to refurbish
the kiosks. The refurbishment included needed roof repairs,
repainting, new corkboard, door frames and new Plexiglas.
These improvements have enhanced the kiosks and better
positioned them to be used for displaying community
events and information. The City's Department of Cultural
Affairs currently uses the display space to highlight
upcoming events and classes available through them.
To ensure that the kiosks remain in good repair, a maintenance
procedure and schedule is being developed.
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WINDOW DISPLAY PROGRAM |
Purpose
of Program:
 To
enhance the appearance of vacant storefronts and assist
property owners with the marketability of their properties,
the Promotions and Image Development Committee of
SDRA has created a program to allow public agencies
or nonprofit groups to advertise program activities
or special events in Greater Downtown Savannah in
the vacant storefront windows of participating property
owners within the program boundaries.
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Program
Boundaries:
Eligible
windows must be located in the following focus areas:
- Broughton Street Urban Redevelopment
Area
- MLK/Montgomery Street Corridor
- Greater Downtown Savannah (north
of Gaston Street)
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Participating
Organizations:
Organizations invited to participate in
this program must be a public agency or nonprofit group.
The prospective applicant must complete an application
form and receive approval from the Promotion and Image
Development Committee. |
Responsibilities
of Organization:
The
organization utilizing the vacant window display area
space will:
-
Secure
materials for the window display
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Decorate
the space tastefully and professionally
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Set
up and remove materials after event has occurred
or after two months, whichever comes first.
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Provide
signed release form stating that they will not hold
property owners responsible for accidents or for
safety of window displays
-
Agree to wash
windows and set up displays on a certain day and
time
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Responsibilities
of SDRA's Promotions and Image Development Committee
and downtown business associations:
- Identify
vacant storefronts Contact property owners to determine
if the vacant display window can be used by organization
- Maintain
waiting list of organizations interested in using
vacant display window. Space will be available on
a first come first serve basis
- Approve
applications submitted.
- Contact organization if display does
not look professional and present a tasteful image
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Responsibilities
of the property owner:
- Give permission to allow businesses
to use vacant storefronts
- Provide access to storefronts
- Provide access to electrical power
(if needed)
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HOLIDAY DECORATING |
 Each
holiday season, SDRA works with many partners to make
the streets of Greater Downtown Savannah feel like the
holiday season. Since 2000, SDRA has partnered with
Braddy Electric to install white miniature lights in
the trees on Broughton Street. Students from the Savannah
College of Art and Design's Student Preservation Association
and other community volunteers hang red bows on the
lampposts along Broughton Street. The City of Savannah
hangs red bows at the major intersections along MLK
from Bay Street to Victory Drive. All holiday decorations
are purchased with donations secured from property and
business owners. Additionally, SDRA partners with the
City's Parking Services Department to offer free on-street
and off-street parking during the holiday season. SDRA
also works with Chatham Area Transit (CAT) in their
"Catch a CAT for a quarter in December" promotions
for the holidays.
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BUSINESS WELCOME PACKET |
SDRA has developed a Business Welcome Packet to educate
new businesses about available services, programs and resources.
The packet includes a list of quarterly events occurring
in downtown, the sign ordinance, parking information, and
much more. Volunteers from the SDRA visit new businesses
located within the Broughton Street Urban Redevelopment Area
and MLK and Montgomery Street Corridor on a quarterly basis
to distribute packets and welcome businesses to Greater Downtown
Savannah. If you are a new business and would like a welcome
packet, please contact the SDRA.
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RIBBON CUTTING/GRAND OPENING PROGRAM |
As part of efforts to showcase new business development
downtown, SDRA coordinates a program to assist businesses
in planning and executing ribbon cutting and grand opening
ceremonies.
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To qualify for the program, a business must request assistance
from SDRA at least three weeks prior to the event. Additionally,
the business must:
 Be
located within the Broughton Street Urban Redevelopment
Area or the MLK and Montgomery Street Corridor, or- Have received assistance from SDRA prior to
the scheduling the celebration, or
- Have received financial assistance from the
Small Business Assistance Corporation or the City
of Savannah's Economic Development Department (Requests
must be submitted by partnering organization).
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If a business
does not qualify for assistance with the event or
prefers to plan the event themselves, SDRA will provide
the business with a media packet, which includes a
sample press release, sample agenda, media contact
information, and contact information for business
leaders.
 SDRA
Ribbon Cutting Program Information Sheet
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