PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Main Street Program and Port Angeles’ Our Community at Work group have received top awards from the Downtown Revitalization Training Institute.
The institute recently held its 24th annual meeting and awards banquet in Port Townsend. It is sponsored by the state Department of Commerce’s Main Street Program, which focuses on ways to improve downtown business areas.
• The Port Townsend Main Street Program was honored for Outstanding Achievement in Promotion for its “Meet Me in Port Townsend” campaign.
The marketing effort mitigated the five-week closure of the Hood Canal Bridge for renovation in May and early June 2009.
It focused on promoting Port Townsend as an inviting, year-round destination for regional travelers; encouraged local shopping and dining; and provided participating businesses with increased visibility on the Internet.
The campaign included print and online advertisements; special shopping days at participating stores; a website, meetmeinporttownsend.com; radio ads; and a series of special events during the closure.
Port Townsend merchants were also encouraged to ramp up their websites and do more marketing to local residents.
Despite the bridge closure, retail sales were up 11.2 percent from the same period in 2008.
• Our Community at Work was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Design for its downtown painting project, which was also related to the Hood Canal Bridge closure.
At a community forum, a group of Port Angeles merchants and residents decided the bridge closure would be the perfect time to scrub, paint and polish downtown to get it ready to welcome back tourists once the bridge reopened.
A public meeting was held to garner support and ask for volunteers.
Nearly 150 people signed up on the spot.
Initial plans called for painting 10 buildings. The volunteers ended up painting 46 during the summer and fall.
Local businesses donated $13,000 worth of equipment and supplies.
Property owners spent more than $240,000 for roofing materials, awnings and paint and, 221 volunteers spent more than 3,300 hours painting during the five-month project.
“The most important thing to come from this project is our own perception of downtown,” Port Angeles Downtown Association Executive Director Barb Frederick, told the institute.
“It now feels more alive, vibrant and welcoming.”
