Centralia Downtown Association Sends First Newsletter

This week the new Centralia Downtown Association sent out their first email update newsletter.  Great things are happening in the historic downtown!  Here is a copy of the email newsletter: 

Hello all!

This past month has been a very busy one for all of us working on the Centralia Downtown Association.  I wanted to take a few minutes to update everyone on some recent accomplishments and a look at some future events.

1. Hotel/Motel Tax Dollars – I was just informed today that the CDA has been awarded $25,000 by the Centralia City Council from the fund created by the additional taxes that are gathered by the local hotels and motels.  We submitted an application a few weeks ago and then went before an advisory board with our plans for 2008.  There are several ways we can utilize this funding, but, there are restrictions for its use.  First, the money has to be spent on marketing to folks outside our region (which has been decided to mean outside the county).  Next, the marketing needs to focus on getting people into downtown AND spending the night for events, holidays or just to enjoy what our downtown has to offer.  Since internet exposure is now global, part of the funding will be put to use in the development of a professional and comprehensive website (www.centraliadowntown.com) that will become a resource for tourists, as well as, all of us here in the area.  If you have a second, take a look at our homepage!  We expect to have a fully developed and tested website before the 1^st of the year.  Some of the funding has been dedicated to the development of a proposed “Friends of the Hotels & Motels” activity and education program.  Call or email for more information.
2. Website – The CDA board spent a lot of time over the past summer and early fall putting together the layout for our website.  We are going to be contracting with two local people for the production and design of the site.  Joli Winsett, of Jo Designs, and Evan Calkins, of Intrinsic Studio, who are both small business owners downtown, will be collaborating on the construction and design of the website.  Joli is the creative mind and talent behind the current home page.