City of Evanston Kicks Off ‘Enjoy Evanston’ to Support Local Businesses Post-Pandemic

News Summary

The City of Evanston has launched an innovative marketing initiative named ‘Enjoy Evanston’ aimed at supporting local businesses as the city recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative will enhance communication among the city’s ten vibrant business districts and promote economic revitalization through an informative website, community engagement, and social media outreach. The initiative follows the ‘Evanston Thrives’ economic development plan and is supported by significant funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

City of Evanston Kicks Off ‘Enjoy Evanston’ to Support Local Businesses Post-Pandemic

In an exciting turn of events for local businesses, the City of Evanston has launched an innovative marketing initiative named Enjoy Evanston. This initiative aims to boost the local economy as the city gears up to emerge from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 26, the Economic Development Committee met to hear updates from designer Rachael Aziz of All Together Studio, the brains behind this urban planning and marketing endeavor.

Focus on Business Districts

At the meeting, Aziz emphasized that the Enjoy Evanston initiative is pivotal in enhancing Evanston’s ten vibrant business districts. Communication is key, and keeping residents informed about neighborhood activities will be a top priority for the initiative. The goal is to create a thriving community where people are aware of the fantastic offerings right at their doorstep.

Evanston Thrives: A Broad Vision

This initiative comes on the heels of a more comprehensive economic development plan called Evanston Thrives, adopted by the City Council last year. The overarching aim? To help local businesses bounce back from the significant challenges posed by the pandemic. With programs like Enjoy Evanston, people in the community can look forward to a revitalized local economy.

The Enjoy Evanston Website: Your Local Guide

One of the standout features of this initiative is the Enjoy Evanston website, which is essentially an information hub for everything local. This online platform makes it easy for residents to discover the various businesses and offerings across all the city’s districts. Plus, businesses and organizations can submit their events directly to the site, ensuring that they gain visibility and attract potential customers.

Raising Awareness

The immediate focus of the initiative is to raise awareness of the Enjoy Evanston website through various advertising channels. You’ll start to see advertisements popping up in public spaces, on social media, and across online platforms. Additionally, a bi-weekly email newsletter that kicked off in March has already garnered an impressive 6,533 subscribers and enjoys a 47% open rate! This newsletter highlights upcoming events and showcases local business stories, keeping everyone in the loop.

Community Engagement and Visibility

To push this initiative further, maps and decals promoting Enjoy Evanston have been installed throughout the city. Many of these engaging visuals come complete with QR codes that people can scan, such as ones placed at popular spots like the skate park. This not only directs more people to the website but also encourages community interaction.

Social Media Success

Those engaging efforts are already bearing fruit! The Enjoy Evanston Instagram account has seen spectacular growth, jumping from just 36 followers to a robust 640 in a mere six months. Additionally, the website has attracted approximately 8,400 total visitors, with around 7,000 of those being unique visitors since January. That’s a considerable amount of foot traffic online!

Investment in the Future

The city hasn’t skimped on financial backing, as the City Council allocated $3 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This funding is part of more than $40 million that Evanston received in 2021, aimed specifically at supporting local businesses in recovery efforts. It’s a robust investment in a common goal: the resilience of the local economy.

A Personalized Touch

All Together is also busily developing personalized gateway signs for each business district. These signs will ensure consistency while turning heads and drawing attention to their unique character. City officials are mapping locations to install new banners across all wards, creating a visual feast for those traveling through Evanston.

Looking Ahead

The Enjoy Evanston initiative promises not just to uplift local businesses but to engage the community in a meaningful way. As the city recovers and revitalizes, residents can look forward to exciting events, local stories, and a bustling economy right in their own backyard. With participation from both businesses and residents, Evanston is well on its way to thriving once again.

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Additional Resources

• Evanston RoundTable
• Wikipedia: Evanston, Illinois
• Downtown Evanston
• Evanston Chamber of Commerce
• City of Evanston