December 20, 2019

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
HQ offices at 119 W. Main will be CLOSED
Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24th & 25th.

NEW YEAR'S DAY
HQ offices at 119 W. Main will be CLOSED
Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

Stakeholding Meeting Rescheduled
Due to the Holiday, the regularly scheduled Stakeholder meeting on December 23rd will be rescheduled to the following Monday, December 30th at 9am. This will be the last Stakeholder meeting for 2019.

Beginning January 8th, 2020, stakeholder meetings will be held weekly
every Wednesday at 9am.

DOWNTOWN FARMINGTON REVITALIZATION - COMPLETE STREETS

CONSTRUCTION NOTICE

The City of Farmington (“CITY”) is pleased to announce that we have contracted with AUI, Inc. (“CONTRACTOR”) via the public bid process to provide construction services for the Downtown Farmington Revitalization – Complete Streets project along Main Street between Auburn Avenue and S. Miller Street in downtown Farmington, New Mexico.

Would you like to learn more about our efforts to revitalize the downtown area? Please visit the Complete Streets Headquarters at 119 W. Main, the Main Street Complete Streets website or the Downtown Farmington website.

2019 End of Year Review

Dear Friends and Downtown Neighbors:

We want to express a heartfelt thank you for your participation and assistance with the development of the Main Street Complete Streets project.

We are proud to say that the City was able to meet or exceed all of the milestones this year in the development of the construction plans. We received the shovel-ready plans in July and were able to publish the bid in October, then awarded the contract in December, and by staying on track most recently gave the Notice to Proceed for January 6, 2020.

Also we were very pleased by the collaboration we witnessed between the downtown merchants and City staff over the past couple of years which created amazing positive programming in downtown corridor. We have seen an increase in attendance at every event. Let's continue that momentum into 2020.

We are optimistic about our downtown's future in 2020 and beyond. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Warm regards,

Sherry M. Roach and Michael Bulloch

DOWNTOWN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Reindeer Romp & North Pole Stroll - Orchard Park, December 21, 2019, 4pm-6:30pm. Farmington gets holiday ready with the Reindeer Romp 5K and the 2 mile North Pole Stroll! This family friendly holiday event is so much more than a Fun Run. This is a short road closure, see public notice for details.
ELF the Musical, Jr. - Civic Center, December 19-21, 2019 at 7pm. A Heather McGaughey Youth Theatre Production. ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.
M-PACT - Civic Center, December 22, 2019, 7:30pm-9:30pm. Hailed as “one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world” by the San Francisco Chronicle, M-PACT is respected worldwide as a cutting edge trailblazer in the realm of vocal music. Emerging from an age of auto-tune and overproduction, this Los Angeles-based ensemble has cultivated a new generation of ears hungry for the fresh, raw power of nature’s “first instrument” – the human voice. Around the globe, audiences are mesmerized by the thrill of m-pact’s vocal acrobatics, innovative orchestrations, and commanding yet authentic stage presence.

For more information on Downtown Events:

Pick up your copy of the Merchant's Guide to Downtown Events from Michael at HQ at 119 W. Main. This a great resource for merchants, it has plenty of ideas on how to make the most of downtown events. Included in this guide are the upcoming 2019 event dates for downtown.

More information on Events at the Civic Center:

The Farmington Civic Center has an outstanding selection of upcoming shows. Don't miss out, be sure to add these dates to your calendar and purchase your tickets early. See website for full list of events. Season and single show tickets are available now, call 505-599-1148 for details!

Do you have an event you want to tell the 4 Corners about? Tell the FCVB

Submit your event to the Farmington Convention & Visitor Bureau's calendar:
https://farmingtonnm.org/events/submit-an-event This is best and most extensive calendar in the region. Send in your event soon to be considered for next months' Jolt-Worthy events.

Did you know? Memberships to the FCVB start at $50/year. This is a great way to get your business listed on one of the top performing websites in our community.

AND.....

Want to know the benefits of being a member of the Chamber of Commerce?

100 W. Broadway | 505-325-0279 | chamber@gofarmington.com | www.gofarmington.com

Communications, Marketing and Public Relations

The City, the MainStreet program, and other partners use many avenues to promote our downtown; the collective business community, events and activities. We will continue these efforts between now and start of construction. This is a short list of those avenues.

Press Releases
Mayor's Table videos
Open Houses
Advertising - ex: banners, window signage and flyers, bus signs
Downtown Newsletter
Web Map
Public Service Announcements
Community Calendars
Social media
Radio
Websites
Event Booths
Speaking Engagements

During construction, we will increase our efforts with specific ideas related to the construction phase. While we believe that we have a well rounded strategy to market and promote downtown, suggestions are always welcome.

That being said...

We highly encourage downtown merchants to increase their efforts in marketing as well. If you need guidance on creating your own marketing plan, have suggestions or questions, please contact the Complete Street Headquarters at 599-8442.

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES

Holiday Marketing Tips!

START HERE: Construction Survival Guide - pick up this handy guide at HQ on ideas before, during, and after construction. Are you ready?

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: pick up a copy of The Merchant's Guide to Downtown Events - this a great resource for merchants, it has plenty of ideas on how to make the most of downtown events. Included in this guide are the upcoming 2019 event dates.

NEXT: Nov 30 is the big day! Prepare your small business for Small Business Saturday with customizable marketing materials at AmericanExpress.

THEN: Grow with Google has small business support with tools, mobile apps, livestreams, and more. Get ideas on promoting your business online.

First: create or access your free business profile
Next: review store hours and update for holiday hours especially for November 30th, Small Business Saturday
Next: use camera to take photos of your products and store interior, publish a post, and create a special offer. Promote your product early!
Try a Smart Campaign with Google Ads.
Grow your email list! Most customer and the best customers are repeat customers!

DID YOU KNOW?
78% of shoppers search for you online BEFORE ever going to the store.
90% of customers will visit a business with photos on their search page!
Are you losing customers because they can't find you or your product?

Deluxe - Their website contains many small business resources on topics like Marketing, Financials, Starting a Business, eBooks, Videos, and Case Studies.
Flip This Town - Flip This Town started as a book by downtown revitalization expert Ron Drake, and has now transformed into a movement that is sweeping communities across the country. Join Ron Drake and his partner, Main Street Manager Kristi Trevarrow as they set out to restore the heart of America, one downtown at a time.
The Small Business Revolution - Small Business Revolution tells stories of America's most inspiring small businesses, using photography, film and written word. Championed by Deluxe (see above). Follow their Facebook page and website for free small business advice, inspiration, and information. Season 4 is now streaming!
HubSpot - a free marketing blog that is very informative and they even offer free webinars on a variety of subjects including social media, marketing, sales, and business development. They also have downloadable PDFs that you can read at your own pace.
Small Business Development Center @ San Juan College - Counselors at the SBDC assist small business in a variety of forms with confidential one-on-one consulting, low cost training in a variety of subjects, technical assistance, and we can assist your company in networking with other local companies to achieve your goals.
SnapRetail - Complete online marketing solution for independent retailers. It’s website, email and social wrapped up in one powerfully simple tool – so you can plan, execute and track all of your marketing activities. Affordable solution that helps you build your brand and sales through meaningful, consistent customer communication.
Farmington Public Library - check with the reference librarian because with just a library card you can access online databases, including the Business and Finance section with templates, guides, and other tools to help you start, finance, and manage your small business. Need a special certification, they have access to that online course too! Call 505-599-1270 for more information on obtaining a library card and accessing the online databases.
Farmington Chamber of Commerce - 'Connecting Commerce to Community' and they work hard at it. It consists of a volunteer association of business people who coordinate efforts of commerce, industry and professions to maintain a healthy business in our community. The chamber helps to promote a better understanding of private enterprise. We are financed by membership investments and are open to any business deciding to invest in the betterment of the community. The Farmington Chamber of Commerce Inc. is organized for the purpose of serving and advancing the civic and business interest of the City of Farmington and the Four Corners region.

Downtown Farmington Awarded Grant Funds

Downtown Farmington: A MainStreet project has applied to the New Mexico MainStreet program and received grant money from the New Mexico Resiliency Alliance in the amount of $7,000 toward a pocket park behind 305 & 307 W. Main, named the Hidden Garden. Conceptual plans can be found at HQ. Look for this new development coming soon!

New Mexico MainStreet Program:

Downtown Farmington: A MainStreet Project is part of the New Mexico MainStreet Program (NMMS). New Mexico MainStreet works throughout the state and partners with designated organizations to create a strong economic business climate while preserving cultural and historic resources. https://www.nmmainstreet.org/

The NMMS uses a Four Point Approach® to implement the goals and support the vision to transform downtown districts. These four areas are Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Vitality.

Do you have an idea for economic growth that qualifies for this program? Find out by contacting Michael Bulloch, NMMS Director, at 505-599-8442.

The HeART of Farmington Arts and Cultural District (ACD):

Want to get involved? You do not need to be a committee member to be involved or to attend the meetings. Contact Michael Bulloch at 505-599-8442.

Art in the Alley:

UPDATE: The 'living mural' behind GC Harvest and ArrowSoul Trading evolves in November, the Ivan Lee mural behind HQ is complete, the Luke Paul mural behind The Chile Pod is in progress, the Michael Billy mural behind The Arc is in progress, and the Christy Clugston mural on the side of Sherwin Williams is in progress.

Muralist Ivan Lee completes his mural behind Complete Streets Headquarters.

Stakeholder meetings:

NEW TIME: Next meeting will be Monday, December 30, 2019 at 9am.* This will be the last stakeholder meeting for 2019.

Beginning January 8, 2020 weekly stakeholder meeting with the contractor will be held on Wednesdays at 9am.*

Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) meetings:

December's meeting is cancelled. The commission board will reconvene in January 2020.

*All meetings are held at HQ at 119 W. Main unless otherwise noted. Public is encouraged to attend.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Opportunities to volunteer are available. This is a way to help out along side your fellow downtown neighbor. Contact Michael for more information.

Help out artists with upcoming mural installations.
Labor for future grant funded projects in the downtown area. See grant projects list above.
Our local non-profits can always use a hand! Contact Hustle Kindness Headquarters or The ARC of San Juan County.
Mayor's Volunteer Program - an opportunity to put your knowledge, talent, and energy toward improving the quality of life in our community.

Our Goal:

The purpose of this newsletter is to be transparent and open about our plans for this large-scale infrastructure investment with the downtown stakeholders. We recognize the potential for economic growth that could result from a project of this magnitude, but also the challenges that come. Additional details on any of the above referenced items are on file at HQ at 119 W. Main or on our website. Feedback is always welcome and participation is always encouraged!

Contact Us:

Michael Bulloch
Downtown Coordinator & Executive Director for MainStreet Program and Arts & Cultural District

119 W. Main Street
505-599-8442 office
505-716-6057 cell
mbulloch@fmtn.org

Sherry M. Roach
Project Coordinator
119 W. Main Street
505-599-8443 office
505-427-1512 cell
shroach@fmtn.org