Alexandria is implementing a spotlight program to help get more eyes on local businesses.
Each month, the city will randomly select a business from its list of participants. That business will be showcased for the month on the city’s Facebook page and website using information and graphics provided by the company.
“We would send out a postcard to let the businesses know—whether it’s brick and mortar or a home-based business, everybody can participate,” Alexandria City Clerk Stephanie Tarter said. “They would go to the website and fill out their information, and then we would do a random drawing each month.”
Tarter said businesses have to opt-in to participate by filling out an online form—which should be available within the next week.
“I like this because we’ve wanted to highlight businesses, but it’s like, how do you do it fairly?” Alexandria Mayor Andy Schabell said.
Tarter said the city would try to do a weekly post for the entire month to encourage people to visit the establishment. With roughly 300 businesses in the city, a post per week for a whole month could change depending on participation.
The city will use Classic Printing in Alexandria to print the postcards. The estimated cost for a 4×6 is $132 for 250 or $155 for 300.
Tarter said the city would also benefit from collecting businesses’ contact information for future communications in addition to opting into the program.
“When we want to do things for, whatever the case may be, if we’re doing another city social or event, we can send that stuff out to the businesses,” she said.
The official name of the program is still in progress. Tarter said they should also have that pinned down within the next week.
“The conversation and kind of the reason to try to come up with a good name is thinking how we want to brand this that’s geared towards our businesses,” Tarter said.
“I think this is a good way to help businesses that can’t physically be here at our council meetings to still get the word out for them,” Schabell said. “But it’s been on the table; any business that wants to come and talk and counsel, we would love to have you.”
