Chamber Work Plan 2020

Strategic Plan
The Chamber Board reviewed and updated the Strategic Plan very recently with the pandemic crisis and its ramifications very much in mind,  In many ways the exercise was affirming, our leadership realized the our mission and values didn’t change and are in fact more important now than ever.  The Strategic Plan is the basis for our ongoing work and is vital in keeping the organization focused, efficient and meeting the needs of its members.

Our Vision:
The Mad River Valley will be an economically thriving, socially vibrant community that appeals to vacationing visitors, and offers positive work-life balance for business owners and a favorable amenity-serenity balance for full-time residents and second home owners.

Our mission:
To improve the economic well-being of Mad River Valley businesses, through leading destination marketing, building brand equity, and creating a unified and engaged culture.

 

Our strategy:

Destination Marketing
Create and execute an integrated, year-round marketing plan, to: increase visibility of the Mad River Valley in the destination marketplace; attract new visitors; and keep repeat visitors engaged.

Brand Equity
Be the champions of the Mad River Valley brand, to: develop and foster a recognizable brand image for the Mad River Valley; proliferate and manage its use by Valley businesses, towns, and organizations.

Unity
Create an engaged community culture of aligned goals, shared responsibility, and unified efforts among organizations, to: demonstrate and inspire a Mad River Valley ethos of optimism and enthusiasm.

On-going Efforts

Communications

• Email Updates for Visitors – monthly
• Email Update for Members – weekly (or more)

Programming

• Business Education Seminars
• Coffee and Conversation
• Mad Mingles

Marketing  – Core Marketing Focus


Website Content – Updating content and navigation.

• Things To Do – Experiences overhaul and ability to offer “Buy Now” on the website. Designed to provide; better, more usable content for visitors, improved SEO, tangible member benefit, increased membership.
• Focus on the MRV’s “neighborhoods” as a theme it’s clear that many people don’t know about all the “ ’hoods” around the Valley.
• Reinvigorate Relocation Page appreciating the renewed interest in moving to the MRV. Institute a Chamber “Welcome Wagon” perhaps in coordination with realtors.

Marketing Initiatives

• Develop Coordinated Co-op Advertising Program
• Collaboration with neighboring communities of Stowe and Waterbury to promote our stretch of Route 100 as a destination. Initially cross linking web content and public relations effort. This may open up some grant opportunities for cooperative marketing
• Develop avenues for cross sector promotions, e.g. between restaurants and retail.

Visitor Center

• Re-imagine Visitor’s Center physical layout as a potential shared work space
• Shared office space to create synergies, share/cross-train volunteers and minimize expenses – MR Rec District, MR Path,

Finance & Management

• Develop newwork plan deliverables and timeline in spreadsheet format so that leadership can track progress.
• Improved financial reporting with emphasis on cash flow.
  Monthly reporting to board

Membership

• Fulfill membership level requirements
• A particular focus will be on bringing in new members in emerging sectors and ones that have typically been underrepresented,

New Initiatives

• Develop Trail Head and Swim Hole Beautification Initiative. Taking a leadership role in collaboration with interested organizations and stakeholders (Towns, Rotary, Friends of the MR, MR Recreation District, MR Riders, MR Path and the local business community. These access points are our visitor’s gateway to the outdoors. Our community needs to work together to ensure they reflect the values of our community.Assess the issues: Garbage/littering, restroom facilities, pet issues, land-owner relations, visitor information, social distancing

  Identify the key areas: Bridge Street Marketplace, Lareau Swim Hole, Warren Falls, West Branch Greenway, Riverside Park, Warren School

  Develop Solutions:
  Grant funding for a coordinator
  “Pack it in, Pack it out” signage campaign
  Add to existing trash barrels, empty more frequently
  Add to existing porto-potty locations
  Create adopt a trail head program to keep an eye on each one
  Organize a Valley “Green- up Day”

• Develop 24/7/365 downtown presence utilizing video phone capabilities. Hoping to make this happen utilizing potential grant funding.