Marketing Plan

tammyb@herald-mail.com Consultant Chris Johansen took a look at downtown Hagerstown and realized the city needs a good, comprehensive marketing plan with an organizing body and someone in charge. Johansen, president of Market Knowledge Inc. of Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday presented his report to the Hagerstown City Council. It's not the first time city leaders have heard that kind of advice from a consultant - in fact, a consultant told the city in 1981 that it needed a management group and special funding for promotions to revitalize the downtown commercial district.

A community's economic development office is its sales team, the group that projects an image, builds a brand and closes the deal. This spring, Washington County's Economic Development Commission (EDC) is redefining what that sales effort looks like, and the Chamber of Commerce is happy to part of that process. The County Commissioners have asked the EDC to convert its strategic plan into five actionable goals, and the EDC asked the Chamber - among many others - for its ideas. Here is what we said.

Officials of the Washington County-owned Black Rock Golf Course plan to hire a marketing firm to craft a strategy to lure golfers to the course, the vice president of the corporation operating the course says. Such a move is necessary because increased competition has resulted in a drop in the number of rounds of golf played by people from outside Washington County, Ronald F. Phillips said. Within a month, the Washington County Golf Course Corp. board will begin accepting bids from marketing firms for a three-year marketing plan, Phillips said.

Airport in discussions with third airline By SCOTT BUTKI scottb@herald-mail.com Hagerstown Airport Manager Carolyn Motz said Tuesday she is involved in talks with officials of an airline about offering passenger service at the airport. An announcement on the matter could be made in the near future. She refused to elaborate and would not identify the airline involved in the talks. Motz told the Washington County Board of Commissioners Tuesday that one of the goals of a proposed marketing plan for the airport was to get a third air carrier.

tarar@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown got some financial help Tuesday from the Washington County Commissioners to market the new downtown education center. The County Commissioners voted unanimously to give the center $25,000 toward efforts to spread the word on the facility. While the commissioners pledged support on Tuesday, Commissioner John C. Munson said he didn't want the education center to make a habit of requesting the county's money.

The economic development goals accepted by Washington County officials Tuesday have been well-received and provide a workable framework for future growth, according to some community leaders reached for comment Wednesday. “We're grateful for the economic development commission for reaching out to us and other stakeholders in the community,” said Brien Poffenberger, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission's top priorities include an assessment of current infrastructure needs, workforce development, Hagerstown's City Center, a countywide marketing plan and leaving the EDC as the lead agency for economic development efforts within the county.

I wonder what else is going on in city? To the editor: Thanks to Peter Benchley, the author of the book "Jaws," for this lead-in: Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, "Boss Hogg," aka Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II, rears his head like the great white shark and proclaims "there's plenty of pie to go around in this initiative. " This "Tammany Hall-like" proclamation made by Bruchey and quoted in The Herald-Mail ("City marketing plan near launch," Sunday, Sept.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - The Shepherd College Small Business Development Center will host a pre-business planning seminar Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Jefferson Security Bank, 1487 Edwin Miller Blvd., Martinsburg, W.Va. Topics discussed will include how to figure start-up costs, what licenses are needed, how to write a business plan, what to include in a loan package and what goes in a marketing plan. Seating is limited and there is a $5 fee for SBDC materials. Prepaid reservations are required by Monday.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - The Shepherd College Small Business Development Center will host a pre-business planning seminar on Monday, Sept. 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Small Business Development Center Office, 315 W. Stephen St., Martinsburg. Topics discussed will include how to figure startup costs, what licenses are needed, how to write a business plan, what to include in a loan package and what goes in a marketing plan. Seating is limited and there is a $5 fee for SBDC materials.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - The Shepherd College Small Business Development Center will host a pre-business planning seminar on Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Community and Technical College of Shepherd, Room A01, 400 W. Stephen St., Martinsburg, W.Va. Topics discussed will include how to figure start-up costs, what licenses are needed, how to write a business plan, what to include in a loan package and what goes in a marketing plan. The workshop will be led by Nancy Ferner, SBDC.

The economic development goals accepted by Washington County officials Tuesday have been well-received and provide a workable framework for future growth, according to some community leaders reached for comment Wednesday. “We're grateful for the economic development commission for reaching out to us and other stakeholders in the community,” said Brien Poffenberger, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission's top priorities include an assessment of current infrastructure needs, workforce development, Hagerstown's City Center, a countywide marketing plan and leaving the EDC as the lead agency for economic development efforts within the county.

The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission on Tuesday unveiled its top five strategic priorities for the future, highlighting the need for renewed emphasis on overall product development, better marketing and leaving the county-level agency's organizational structure alone. Accepted unanimously by the county's Board of Commissioners, the unranked priorities are preparing an infrastructure needs assessment report; workforce development needs; a focus on Hagerstown's City Center; developing a countywide marketing plan; and establishing the EDC as the lead organization to provide a more unified focus in economic development.

A community's economic development office is its sales team, the group that projects an image, builds a brand and closes the deal. This spring, Washington County's Economic Development Commission (EDC) is redefining what that sales effort looks like, and the Chamber of Commerce is happy to part of that process. The County Commissioners have asked the EDC to convert its strategic plan into five actionable goals, and the EDC asked the Chamber - among many others - for its ideas. Here is what we said.

Washington County is hiring a Virginia company to prepare a marketing plan for Hagerstown Regional Airport, which the county owns. Airport Director Phil Ridenour said the Washington County Board of Commissioners started talking a year and a half ago about creating a plan. The plan will cover how to strengthen existing aviation-related businesses at the airport and how to attract new businesses, he said. It also will look at the future of local air passenger service and how to develop air cargo business.

The Mason-Dixon Region Automobile Club of America will hold its annual car show Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike. The show includes a car corral, a display area for Chevrolet cars in celebration of 100 years of Chevrolet, and free flea market (all items are welcome). There will also be Model T driving lessons, food, bake sale and door prizes. Registration costs $8 per vehicle and $8 per car corral space at the gate.

Q: We are just a month away from opening our new small business and are suddenly aware that we really need a better marketing plan, especially as it relates to targeting our customers. Can SCORE help us? A: Good timing! For starters, we recommend that you attend the next SCORE roundtable, scheduled for Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Always Ron's restaurant, 29 N. Burhans Blvd. in Hagerstown. This is a free event but food will be available for purchase. The roundtable will acquaint you with some local marketing research resources available through the Washington County Free Library system.

Money to develop a marketing plan for Hagerstown Regional Airport will be the county's top priority for grant funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Washington County Board of Commissioners decided Tuesday. The project is one of six the commissioners agreed to submit for consideration for an anticipated $1.3 million to be distributed between three Western Maryland counties for fiscal 2013. The county is seeking $75,000 in ARC funds for the marketing plan, or half of the $150,000 estimated cost.

The Blue Goose Farm Market will holds its grand opening and ribbon cutting  Friday at 10 a.m. Built at the site of the old Hepburn's Farm Market, this new business in town anchors the east entrance to Hancock. The market features many of the “old favorites” such as fruit, preserves and freshly-baked pies, plus many new features and items.  It is on Md. 144 extended and can be reached from Exit 3 on Interstate 70. Christmas dinner The Hancock Lions Club will hold its annual community Christmas dinner Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hancock American Legion on East Main Street.

Q: We recently started a small business and my banker told us we need a business plan. Is it really important, since we have already started the business? A: There are many important questions that your business plan will help you answer. If you have a good idea for starting a business, then the plan can help you determine if you should go ahead with your idea. If you can't convince yourself that your idea will work, how will you convince your prospective backers and customers?

Cronise Market Place at 312 S. Main St. plans to expand. The Boonsboro Town Council agreed Tuesday to rezone an adjacent property, at 310 S. Main St., from residential to commercial. Owners Bonnie and Cliff Pereschuk requested the change so the business could expand into an adjacent building, which they also own. Bonnie Pereschuk said the move would help Cronise Market Place operate year-round. The market sells produce, flowers, crafts, jellies and furniture. Currently, the business is outside and closes in the winter.