ENCINITAS 101’S COVID RESPONSE
The COVID crisis shook the world and our downtown Encinitas community was not immune to that damage. Small businesses were in danger of closing for good with mandatory quarantines and business shutdowns. It was an uncertain 2020 year but our organization stood firmly behind the downtown businesses by keeping them informed of small business grants, loans and other crucial resources. In times of crisis, the Encinitas community stepped up to help each other through this difficult time. Our response to COVID is still ongoing and comprehensive.
Here’s a list of some of the actions we’ve taken on our road to recovery:
- As COVID news broke, the 101 Mainstreets came together to create a fundraiser for local small businesses, called the Encinitas Support Fund. With the help of the Harbaugh Foundation, we raised over $110,000 and distributed checks to 66 businesses in Encinitas.
- Advocated an Emergency Moratorium on Commercial Evictions with the City of Encinitas to protect businesses from evictions while they were forced to close their doors and miss months of income. E101 also sent letters to downtown landlords to ask for rent relief.
- E101 continues to send merchant focused newsletters with information that is helpful for business owners, including information for local small business grants/loans. Updates via Employment Development Department website and the City of Encinitas.
- E101 regularly collects information from businesses on new hours, take out/delivery opportunities, online shopping opportunities, etc. to share in our community newsletter that reaches over 5,000 people.
- Meet regularly with the Business Improvement Development Committee (made up of all the business association leaders in the SD County) to brainstorm how to best support small businesses.
- Most recently, E101 staff worked with city staff on the Shared Streets Pilot Program to utilize County grant money to create outdoor dining solutions for our downtown restaurants. We will continue to oversee the development and improvement of this project.
- Currently, still working with restaurants on getting all the necessary permits to expand outside to sidewalks and parking spaces.
- Taking all requests to post on our social media – With business regulations changing so frequently, we like to keep the community informed on the most up to date info.
- Sending messaging out to our community about ways to continue to support local rather than big box. Small Business Saturday 2020 is a collective event that the 101 Mainstreets and the Chamber of Commerce will be promoting collectively to emphasize local spending this year! E101 encourages the community to support by purchasing gift cards, ordering take out/delivery, shopping small online and supporting the business owner’s hard decision to close their doors.
- Continuing to modify our events like the Taste of Encinitas to highlight our downtown businesses while adhering to all safety precautions.
WHO WE ARE
A non-profit corporation, Encinitas 101 MainStreet’s mission is historic preservation and renewal of downtown Encinitas. It is part of a national association of MainStreet Cities.
MainStreet is a revitalization strategy used in over 1,200 cities and 40 states. Developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National MainStreet Center, the program encourages imaginative use of business and government resources to support local downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization efforts.
In 2013, Encinitas 101 MainStreet and its hundreds of current and past members celebrated its 25-year anniversary of revitalizing, restoring and promoting downtown Encinitas.
An executive director acts as primary spokesperson, liaison to the city, and, with the help of staff members:
- manages the programs
- coordinates volunteers
- assist swith program implementation
Staff members, including the executive director, report to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors implements the programs to effect positive change in the coastal corridor of Encinitas. The Board is primarily made up of business and property owners from the community and guides policy, funding, and planning for Encinitas 101’s activities.
Main Street revitalization efforts include:
- business development
- property development
- coordination of promotional events
- Development of promotional materials
The Board of Directors includes a variety of representatives from the community, primarily made up of business and property owners. The Board guides policy, funding, and planning for Encinitas 101’s activities.
Improving Our Downtown
E101 facilitates facade grants to help fund facelifts to business storefronts as well as murals. We continue to work towards the restoration of La Paloma Theatre.
E101 conducts Merchant Meetings to hear thoughts & concerns and to discuss solutions and offer education to assist business owners
Continue the Alley Activation Program – with lighting and landscaping throughout alley to encourage pedestrian walkability
- Working to attract more desirable retail & optimize the retail mix
- Implementing creative solutions like pop-up stores
- Working with City of Encinitas to streamline permit processes
- Weekly Newsletter sent out to 4000+ subscribers
- Social Media posts daily
- Timely Holiday promotions and merchant events
- Print advertising for events and retail shopping
E101 brings more than 100,000 people into our downtown to shop & attend our event
- Spring Street Fair
- Encinitas Cruise Nights
- Taste of Encinitas
- Safe Trick or Treat
- Holiday Street Fair
- Shop Business Saturday
THE ENCINITAS 101 TEAM
2019 Goals
La Paloma Theater
Written commitment on 3 or 4 projects-1 completed project
Fundraising agreements and an organizational structure
Regular meetings-bimonthly
Tenant Mix
Identify Ideal Mix for Downtown
Identify conditions to keep tenants
Identify elements to get people to come Downtown
Holiday Marketing & Lighting
Develop a plan to make Downtown a more festive place, including more lights
Design/Repurpose an event that identifies Downtown as a shopping area
Parking & Mobility
Identify what Encinitas 101 can have an impact on
Partner with the City and join committees
Agree on a set of recommendations to the City
Identify future trends
Research what other cities are doing
Wayfinding
Collaboration with the city staff
Research what should be signed
Identify steps to get Wayfinding
Research different types and styles of signs
Community Outreach
Partner with CRC (Community Resource Center)
Research what can be done to support the “Will Not” segment of the homeless population
Partner with law enforcement
Training for merchants
Identify other Community Partnerships (Interfaith)
Infrastructure Maintenance
Host a “Walk-a-bout” Downtown-Photograph the areas of concern
Identify a list of repairs
Prepare a report for Council
Improve the sidewalks