Summary
Update on Businesses
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the businesses in the CRA were required to comply with State/Federal Guidelines which greatly impacted business operations in the CRA over the past three months. During this time staff maintained contact with businesses to the best of their ability while staying in compliance with safety procedures. Staff noticed that all previously operating Main Street businesses had their doors open as of Phase 1 reopening. There is one new business, Gallop n' Gary's and one relocated business, H2O Takeover.
Increased Marketing Strategy
CRA Staff has been working to develop an increased marketing strategy to reboot visibility and attention to the downtown area. The goal is to develop a well-rounded campaign in order to attract various demographics through social and print media. In order to move quickly, Staff is looking at an option to allow each business to prepare a short video clip. This clip will then be posted on social media and boosted for a set amount of time. One example would be to boost a business for one day with a $50 maximum. Each day the a new business be featured on social media. Additionally, Staff is exploring the possibility of hiring a company to create a video clip highlighting the downtown area. The clip could be used to promote the City both online and through television advertising.
US 441 Medians
Staff is developing a plan to update the landscape in the US 441 medians. The intent of developing this plan is to improve the condition of landscaping within the medians and to also ensure a cohesive aesthetic appearance is implemented along US 441. It is possible this will require a phased effort. Staff will make a future update once there is an initial design.
Billboards
The CRA has contracted with two billboard companies: Outfront Media and Clear Channel. The City currently has a total of four billboards under contract.
In the southbound direction there is one billboard located north of the I-10 and I-75 junction, approximately 30 minutes prior to Alachua (not lighted). A second billboard is located directly on the Alachua exit (lighted). These billboards were installed in early March.
In the northbound direction are two billboards located across from one another approximately 3-5 minutes prior to the Alachua exit (one lighted and one unlighted). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a delay in the process and installation of the City's billboards. Outfront Media has agreed to cancel the current contract and enter into a new contract under the same terms which stipulate that Outfront will provide the second billboard at no additional charge. In addition, Outfront Media will install the artwork used on the southbound billboards while their creative team works to develop a campaign for the northbound boards. This will be done at no cost to the CRA. In addition, the CRA has benefited from the existing billboard that was put in place in 2018 as Outfront Media has allowed the billboard to remain in place at no charge to the CRA during this time.
The Tin Lizzie Club
On March 10, 2020 the Tin Lizzie Ford Model T Club came to Alachua. The Club was in the Alachua vicinity for the week on their winter tour. There were approximately 125 vehicles registered in this year’s tour. Every tour participant received a packet at their registration that contained the following: welcome letter, walking guide, coming events, list of retail shops and a menu to each restaurant on Main Street.
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