The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

Breaking News

EDWIN WERDERMAN	JOHN PELCZER
LORRAINE OSTEN-GREENIA	MARILYN KRIEWALL
MARISSA BOLLINI	MARJORIE RENNY
MAUREEN NASIEROWSKI	PAUL UERLING
RUTH McCLEARY	WITOLD BORONSKI
Browse Full Text...

» Inside

Public Notices
Links
About Us
News Stands
Subscriptions
Editorial Forms
Archives

» Deadlines

Friday, 2 pm
Inserts

Friday, Noon
Retail Display
Editorial

Monday, Noon
Classified Display
Service Directory Display

Monday, 2 pm
Service Directory Liners

Monday, 3 pm
Classified Liners

All Holiday Deadlines are One Full Workday Earlier

You are Viewing an Archived Issue

Posted: 06/20/12

DDA seeks input on
promotional programs

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Romeo may be within the United States, but a passport may soon aid visitors to the historic village.
       The Romeo Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is seeking new programs for downtown businesses to promote themselves.
       DDA Director Kim Hale approached the DDA board with the idea of creating a Romeo passport to help bring more traffic into downtown.
       She said the passport would have a page for each participating business, and as customers make purchases they will receive stamps. When enough stamps are collected, the passport holder can then enter a sweepstakes.
       "The board thought that was a forward-thinking idea, and want me to shop around the local business community to see if we have an interest in participating," Hale said.
       She said the sweepstakes prize could range from a locally-inspired item to a one-week trip to the Florida Keys.
       To get the program up and running, she said a minimum of 20 businesses would need to join.
       "We'll come back in July with it," she said. "If we get it approved, we can sell passports during Peach Festival."
       Hale will also research the viability of offering planter sponsorships to local businesses and groups. She said interested parties could pay to sponsor one of 28 concrete planters found throughout downtown.
       In turn, a stake in the planter would display the sponsor's name.
       "It's essentially an advertising opportunity for businesses outside of town to get Main Street signage, and an opportunity for families, civic groups and others to beautify downtown," Hale said.
       Hale is currently considering a price tag of $300 to $400 in exchange for six months of signage. If approved by the DDA board, the sponsorships could begin as soon as February.