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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-20Orono D.B.I.A Meeting Minutes — March 20,2025 Next Meeting Date: Thursday April 17, 2025 Time: 1:00 p.m. Location: Orono Town Hall, lower level 1. Welcome and Call to Order a. Land Acknowledgement Statement 2. Roll Call Present: Brad Beckstead, Will Davies, Chad Harmer, Karen Lowery, Perry Kirkbride, Margaret Zwart, Alison Dee, Rhonda Armour, Laura Knox, Lisa John - Mackenzie, Chris Austin and Kristyn Chambers. 3. Approval of Agenda Motion: Brad Seconded: Chad Carried: 4. Approval of February Minutes Motion: Brad Seconded: Chad Carried: 5. Treasures Report - Financial Statements/ Bank Balance a) Will — provided review of Financial Report. Will and Brad have been working with the book keeper to keep the financial report up to date. The end of month balance is. $3232.86. The Municipality Levy has been granted and $6500 will be deposited into the bank account. They have purchased an online QuickBooks for transparency purposes and the cost is $19.50/month. They are currently sourcing an email address that can be used for contacting the DBIA and will be monitored by the executives. 6. Agenda: Presentations/Delegations - Rhonda Armour — CBOT - Laura Knox — Invest Clarington Lisa - Central Counties Tourism and Kristyn Chambers Region of Durham Tourism to present Alison Dee - Orono Library - Lisa - Central Counties Tourism and Kristyn Chambers Region of Durham Tourism o Funding streams for Small Business Marketing Support, Out -of -region Marketing Support, Route Development and Destination Development. o Lisa and Kristyn presented the opportunities and support they can provide to the D.B.I.A. They would like to be involved in all Orono D.B.I.A event information and kept informed of any upcoming events that will be held throughout the year. There is a significant opportunity in helping with social media promotion, including photo opportunities with influencers specifically dedicated to promoting rural tourism. The organization is provincially funded to help businesses with the visitor economy - tourist specific from 40K away or more. They can offer marketing support, content suggestions and update their websites with current D.BI.A events. D.B.I.A members are strongly encouraged to register to be a member for their business and upload current events to be socialized on their various platforms and websites. It will be added to the event calendar and it will filter up to each associated website to be promoted. o Specific data sets and tools are offered to help businesses to understand the foot traffic into their businesses, which can aid with conversion and yield on tourists visiting Orono. Specifically a rural route development tool is in the works. o Part of this initiative is Partnership support. They are provided with provincial funding to fund different initiatives for local businesses, and a portion is allocated for businesses to attract tourism. This support would cover up to 50% of the total cost of the campaign up to $2,000. o Lisa and Kristyn to provide the reach of Central Counties Tourism and Region of Durham Tourism reach data to D.B.IA at a later date. Alison Dee - Orono Library o Library Card Discount Program: The Orono Library is working on a program for its library card holders. Show your library card and receive a discount at participating businesses. Note: Businesses who choose to participate in this program will decide what discount will be provided to customers - Chris Austin - Revival Music and Entertainment — presenting information regarding the upcoming event at the Orono Arena on May 31St o Orono swag will be sold during the event o The festival has been running for 4 years and is supported by the Lyons club who is also conducting a 50/50 raffle at the festival. The Orono Agricultural Society will be running the bar. The Country path has volunteered to support and help to promote local farms. Chris will post a new advertisement for the festival including all their sponsors closer to the festival. Ticket sales are currently at approximately 200 sold, anticipating 400 tickets to be sold. - Laura Knox — Invest Clarington o The Patio Permit project is now open- this project supports licensing all seasonal patios for local businesses. The Orono sign is still in the works- Gavin still has it. Invest Clarington is awaiting obtaining the sign to conduct an assessment of logistical usage of the sign. The team needs to come out to assess sizing and installation as well as contacting neighbours to ensure the Orono Library is a good fit for placement. - Rhonda Armour — CBOT o CBOT is supporting businesses and residents displaced by the downtown Bowmanville fire.They are accepting monetary donations from businesses to businesses directly impacted by the fire. A formal process has now been put in place and businesses can send money via donations(cD_cbot.ca. More information can be found on their website and social media until April 16. The funds will be distributed evenly to the 10 businesses impacted. Additionally, CBOT is collecting gift cards on behalf of the Salvation Army for the residents that have been displaced. Monetary donations can also be made to the Salvation Army. COBT is aiding with finding new locations for the businesses who were impacted by the fire. All businesses reopened today for the first time since the fire. 7. Follow Up Business - DBIA downtown Follow Up: Chad- Media Support. Chad distributed the quotes on the different media support available at the meeting. D.B.I.A to re -group on the approach due to tourism support now available to the D.B.I.A. 8. New Business Arising out of Minutes: Follow Up : Brad — Monthly Mayor Meeting with DBIA chairs - The executive has tabled a new "Shop Local and Win" campaign by Brad and Chad who attended the monthly meeting with the Mayor. There is an opportunity to work with other D.B.I.A's to support this initiative. An additional meeting with another D.B.I.A has been scheduled for next Friday March 28 to discuss the promotion of the campaign and operational logistics of determining the winners of the campaign. Rhonda has advised to lean on CBOT for support. Note: The executive is asking D.B.I.A members to support the Orono Swag Initiative by purchasing swag for resale in each D.B.I.A members respective store. The funds raised will support future D.B.I.A initiatives and events Follow Up: Brad/Chad/Allison — Events - Orono Fest idea — due to the growing number of events in 2025 - there will be a possible delay of this initiative to 2026. - Easter in the Park — The Easter Egg hunt will take place at the Orono Library on April 26. - Historical Walking Tour - A historic walking tour of Orono will take place at the Orono Library on May 29. - Antique Festival — Allistar has requested support with permitting the event - Christmas parade - date is still TBD. - Follow Up: Pending schedule meeting with events committee Date of Next Meeting: Thursday April 17, 2025 @ 1:00 p.m — Orono Town Hall (Basement) 9. Adjournment - 1:48 p.m.