July 2009— June 2010

I. Organization

A. Annual Meeting

1. Annual Meeting is usually held in the second week of September.

B. Board Retreat

1. The Board will have a planning meeting after the Annual meeting to discuss ideas presented and develop short and long term goals.

II. Business Recruitment and Retention

1. Continue marketing Fortuna as a desirable place to locate a business or move an existing business.  Use FBID website for attracting and informing businesses which are relocating, growing or starting-up.
2. Be intake point for businesses opening or moving to Fortuna. Provide information on available commercial space, resources, and local, state and other regulations.  Refer businesses to other economic development partners as needed.
3. Track available commercial property and businesses seeking commercial space.  Use online database to make available property available to public.
4. Track details of recruitment prospects, start-up businesses and commercial property owners.
5. Complete a “fulfillment piece” in printed and electronic form.  This document is to be used for prospects interested in moving their business or expanding to Fortuna.
6. Continue to provide educational opportunities (see Seminars) and programs (see Programs) for existing Fortuna businesses that will improve their competitiveness.

III. Advertising and Public Relations

A. Public Relations

The FBID office is the “Public Relations Agency” for the business   community of Fortuna. In this role the office communicates with local, regional and national media for the following:

1. Community event information as needed by event committees
2. Business Briefs and General Business news
3. Columns and regular features in local papers
4. Business and event news for local Radio and TV outlets
5. Internet Marketing and "FBIDOnline"
6. Regional/National Event Calendars

B. Advertising

1. Re-tool multi-media focus for upcoming fiscal year. One example is working with the local paper to feature different business on a weekly basis. Articles/Write –up would be provide by local business to FBID and passed along to the paper.
2. Advertise Fortuna’s ‘event season’ as a group in nearby markets
3. Assist festivals and events in their advertising campaigns (see Festivals and Events).
4. Advertise other FBID promotions (i.e. gift certificate, Holiday Movies, business seminars etc).

C. Newsletter-Mailings

1. Produce 4 quarterly newsletters and/or other mailed publications, mailing to all licensed businesses in Fortuna.
2. Use newsletters and other mailings to inform Fortuna businesses of FBID activities & plans and ask business owners’ opinions on issues related to projects and budgeting.
3. Make electronic version of newsletter available on FortunaBusiness.com

IV. Events and Promotions

A. Fortuna Rodeo Week- July 13-19, 2009

1. Assist Rodeo Board Promotion Chair in organizing and releasing Rodeo public relations and setting media events.  Increase visibility of Fortuna’s business community as part of the Rodeo Week activities.
2. Aid Rodeo Board and business groups in advertising for Rodeo Week events.  Develop packages with local media to increase business visibility during Rodeo Week

B. AutoXpo - July 24-26, 2009
Aid as requested by AutoXpo Committee

C. Hops in Humboldt – August 29, 2009

1. Assist Hops in Humboldt event committee and board in producing micro brew tasting and music event.
2. Provide support on logistics of event, advertising and public relations.
3. Help event committee with issues related to growth

D. Civil War Days –Sept 18-20,2009

1. Assist Reenactors of the American Civil War and Rotary Club Fortuna Sunrise in preparations for new event.
2. Provide marketing assistance for event organizers as needed
3. Provide $1000 grant as a step down program, form the $2000 FBID provided in 2008 to help cover costs for advertising and other promotional expenses

E. Apple Harvest Festival- October 3, 2009

1. Coordinate festival with other organizing groups (Chamber, Downtown, Redwood Village, Parks and Rec, Clendenen’s).
2. Coordinate fundraising activities and sponsorships.  Develop new merchandise to increase event income.
3. Provide event insurance for activities surrounding festival.
4. Plan and execute advertising plan and public relations campaign in support of festival.  Include regional and national niche promotion when possible.
5. Organize festival information/merchandise booths.
6. Explore forming independent committee for logistics of festival

F. Core Area Trick or Treat October 31, 2009

1. Assist Redwood Village Merchant’s Assoc. and Downtown Business Assoc. in marketing their merchant Trick or Treat nights.

G. Holiday Kids Movie Days - December

1. Sponsor two weekend movie events for the children of Fortuna and the surrounding area. 
2. Distribute tickets through Fortuna business locations.  Encourage businesses to give tickets to loyal customers as business building activity.
3. Pending City approval, use "Rent Fund" to fund this promotion.  Supplement City gift with promotional funds and sponsorships

H. Citywide Christmas Events

1. Promote and assist events that bring retail and service customers over the Christmas holidays.  Including Redwood Village Open House, Downtown Open House, Electric Lighted Parade & Christmas Music Festival.
2. Provide liability insurance coverage for public decoration on Fortuna Boulevard and Main Street.
3. Provide overall public relations support for holiday events

I. Fortuna Daffodil Show -March 28-29, 2010

1. Assist Fortuna Garden Club in promoting and advertising the 34rd annual show.
2. Coordinate art show by local school children in business and store windows.

J. Spring Fling – Saturday before the Easter Holiday

1. Assist the Downtown Business Assoc. with promotions and public relations.

K. Farmer's Market - Tuesday, June 1st - October 26, 2010

1. Through public relations efforts use Farmers Market as a way of drawing attention to Fortuna's business community and drawing potential customers into Fortuna.

L. City wide Yard Sale – June 5th, 2010

1. Assist the Downtown Business Assoc. with promotion and public relations.

M. Art and Wine in the Park - June 13, 2010

1. Aid organizers in promotion and advertising of event.
2. Assist new Fortuna Rotary event chair in growing event in attendance, wineries and artists represented.
3. Assist Organizers on site as requested.

N. New Events

As funding and resources allow assist new event committees with event development.  Some events that have been brought to FBID office include: Stuff the Bus, El Dia Nino/ Day of the Children, Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos, Art show in businesses etc.

V. Programs and Promotions

A. Fortuna Gift Certificate

1. Administer Program, keep books on certificates, assist Umpqua Bank in filling large orders etc.
2. Promote Gift Certificates to the area employers as alternatives to cash or gift certificates to other shopping destinations.
3. Promote to the general public as an option for gifts to friends and family during November and December.
4. Fund reprint of certificates as needed.
5. Advertise certificates to Fortuna and Eel River Valley small employers as a perk for employees.

B. FBID Website

1. Provide information to Fortuna business owners about FBID’s Workplan, meetings, programs and timely information.
2. Provide information for new and relocating businesses about coming to Fortuna, contacts for available commercial property and business development.
3. Continue successful search engine marketing of “FortunaBusiness.com” aiming for relocating businesses and start-up entrepreneurs.
4. Provide online Goods and Services Guide
5. Re-direct tourists and other visitors to the Chamber of Commerce web site.

C. Public Decoration

1. Act as scheduling authority and design review for street light vertical banners as outlined in policies drafted in 07-08 and agreement with City of Fortuna.
2. Evaluate re-start of mural grant program with assistance of Design Review Board.

D. Goods and Services Guide

1. Maintain online Goods and Services Guide. 
2. Monitor usage of online guide and consider printing guide if Board deems valuable.

E. Core Areas

1. Assist members of the two FBID "Core Areas," the Downtown and Redwood Village merchant associations, in their promotional activities and committee work.
2. Help Downtown merchants and property owners in drafting an “Area Plan” to guide future planning.
3. Provide insurance coverage for promotional activities in core areas.
4. Explore idea of core area group with businesses of Strongs Creek Plaza

F. Member Benefits Miscellaneous

1. Continue to make the FBID’s Bulk Mailing privileges available to all Fortuna businesses.
2. Develop new “Member Benefits” that will impact the majority of FBID member businesses.

G. Classes and Seminars

1. Co-produce multiple seminars with North Coast Small Business Development Center and the Chamber of Commerce.   Some seminar topics will include:  Social Networking, Networking, and Web Essentials and more.
2. Develop new classes that affect under served businesses.  Possible topics: Small group medical insurance, direct mail for home based businesses, labor law etc.

VI. Other Funding Sources

A. Grants

1. Continue to pursue grant funding for projects consistent with FBID’s mission and contract with the City of Fortuna
2. Assist Fortuna Chamber with implementing PG&E economic survey grant as needed