PORT TOWNSEND — A $30,000 marketing campaign to counter the economic effects of a recession, a five-week Hood Canal Bridge May-June closure, a harsh winter and a ferry shortage has generated accolades for Port Townsend Main Street, which is the subject of a special feature on the National Trust for Historic Preservation Web site.
The Meet Me in Port Townsend feature is live at Historic Preservation Web site, www.preservationnation.org/main-street.
The project was half paid by the state Department of Commerce grant and Washington State Tourism, and Main Street and private donations matched that.
Donors included Puget Sound Energy, Peninsula Daily News and The Leader.
Besides Web development by Jon Muellner with Wind’s Eye Design, the project produced 16 videos about well-established downtown businesses.
The videos were shot and produced by Jane Champion
“The bridge closure, coupled with the recession and the reduced ferry service, was a frightening prospect,” said Mari Mullen, executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, in the story.
“We surveyed our businesses to gauge priorities, determined additional marketing to be paramount and got to work applying for grants and matching funds and designing a $30,000 marketing campaign.”
Over the past six months, Port Townsend’s downtown businesses have not only felt the impact of an “economic downturn” that has turned into a full-blown recession.
They have had the added pain of severe winter weather, the five-week closure of the Hood Canal Bridge — Port Townsend’s main access to Seattle, Tacoma and other communities — and reduced ferry service/capacity from Whidbey Island.
“It was time to get the word out there that Port Townsend was open, filled with interesting, owner-operated businesses with great stories to tell,” Mullen said.
“It was also the perfect time for local residents to reacquaint themselves with their hometown storefronts, lodgings and restaurants.”
Thirty-three businesses signed on for Port Townsend Main Street Program’s Meet Me in Port Townsend multi-faceted promotion, which included print and online ads, rotating special feature days in participating stores, a campaign-specific Web site, video clips, Web site links, e-postcards and public events in May and June.
The Meet Me in Port Townsend campaign highlights the unique qualities of Port Townsend’s commercial historic districts — shopping, dining, arts, entertainment and outdoor activities — with local residents, Peninsula neighbors and regional visitors, Mullen said.
A Seattle National Public Radio radio campaign invited I-5 corridor customers back to visit after the Hood Canal Bridge reopened.
“We hope to do the project again next year,” Mullen said.
The program drew more than 7,000 visitors to the Main Street Web site at http://www.meetmeinporttownsend.com, Mullen said.
She complimented the promotion committee, which included Muellner, Champion and photographer Kevin Mason, for its work on the project.
Videographer Champion was assisted by Michael Delagarza.
Nearly 95 percent of Port Townsend’s downtown businesses are locally owned, Mullen said.
Heavy emphasis was placed on more than 30 participating retailers.
The Port Townsend Main Street Promotion Committee includes chairwoman Sue Arthur (Maricee), Kathy Decker (Port Townsend Jefferson County Leader), Donna Haynes, Judy Rich (The Green Eyeshade), Pam Dionne (Discovery Bay Games), and Mullen.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
