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Member News July 2011
Members Making Headlines
May 23, 2011 - The NationalTrust for Historic Preservationannounced today that the Downtown Newark Partnership is a winner of the 2011 Great American Main Street Awards®(GAMSA). Recognized as a leader following the Main Street Four-Point Approach®, embracing sound historic preservationethics and building strategic partnerships, the DowntownNewark Partnership was honored atthe Main Street Awards Ceremony during the National Main Streets Conference inDes Moines, Iowa.
The National Trust Main StreetCenter's annual GAMSA winners are recognized for their exceptionalaccomplishments in revitalizing the nation's historic and traditional MainStreet commercial districts by using the proven Main Street Four-PointApproach®. Using the Main Street methodology, Newark, Delaware, hasevolved from a sleepy college town with a struggling downtown to asmall-business hotbed and regional shopping, dining, and entertainmentdestination. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, includingthe University of Delaware, elected officials, business owners and residents,the Downtown Newark Partnership has capitalized on Newark's business andtourism opportunities without losing its historic identity or small-city roots.
"The Downtown Newark Partnership hasworked skillfully with public and private partners to find creative solutionsto downtown Newark's challenges and to celebrate its assets," said DougLoescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. "With 26 newbusinesses opening and more than $30 million invested in the last 3.5 years anda popular year-round arts and events calendar that draws people from milesaround, Newark has emerged as a fun, attractive, and thriving city for work andplay."
The other four winners include Downtown Beloit Association,Beloit, Wis.; Main Street Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce, Fla.; Old Town Main Street,Lansing, Mich.; and Silver City MainStreet Project, Silver City, N.Mex. GAMSA winners demonstrate exemplary achievement in theprocess of strengthening their downtowns and commercial districts based on thefollowing selection criteria:
- Active involvement of the public and private sectors;
- Broad-based community support for the revitalization effort;
- Quality of achievements over time;
- Innovative solutions to significant problems;
- Commitment to historic preservation;
- Evolving track record of successful commercial district revitalization;
- Comprehensive revitalization effort: activity in all four points of the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization;
- Economic impact of the revitalization program; and
- Successful small business development.
The winners were selected by a national jury composed offormer award winners, community development professionals, governmental agencyrepresentatives who are active in community economic development and historicpreservation. The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a proven methodologyfor historic preservation-based economic development that was developed by theNational Trust for Historic Preservation 30 years ago and is used in more than2,000 communities throughout the U.S.
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organizationbringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matterto them. By saving the places where great moments from history - and theimportant moments of everyday life - took place, the National Trust forHistoric Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, sparkeconomic development and promote environmental sustainability. Withheadquarters in Washington, DC, eight regional and field offices, 29 historicsites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District ofColumbia, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education,advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and localcommunities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history andcollectively shaping the future of America's stories.
GWCVB Photos from Award Presentation in Newark June 11th! Right click and choose "View Image" to see full size. 
GWCVB Staff Attends Amtrak's National Train Day May 2, 2011
Linda McKay and RoseRoberts exhibited on behalf of the GWCVB at Amtrak's 4th annualNational Train Day in Washington DC. Anestimated 10,000 people attended and enjoyed family activities, great food,music and Amtrak presentations celebrating travel by train. Over 900 peoplevisited the GWCVB exhibit and learned more about the Greater Wilmington DE areaand reasons why they should plan a visit soon! We gave a Family Passport away and a winner was selected andcontacted. They were very happy and planto make plans this summer to visit.
Images from the GWCVB booth. Right click and choose "View Image" to see full size.
Communications Update
More than $650,000 in editorial coverage was generatedbetween July 1st and April 30th. Articles appeared in recent issues of The Baltimore Sun, Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star,Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine, National Culinary Review, New England Antiques Journal, Recreation News, Small Market Meetings, Southern Living, Washington Post and Woman'sWorld.
Upcoming articles are scheduled in Delaware Today, Family CircleMagazine, Meetings East, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PreservationMagazine and USA Today.
GWCVB was represented at the National Public RadioVacation Fair in June and had an opportunity to introduce the company's 500employees to getaways in the Greater Wilmington Area. Plans are in place to attend the Mid-AtlanticTourism Public Relations Association's Annual 4-day Marketplace in SolomonsIsland in September.visitwilmingtonde
VisitWilmingtonDE.com Update
- Launched and delivered a new consumer E-newsletter to over 9,000 recipients that generated a 5.44% unique click-through rate (0.94% greater than world-wide average)
- Continue to run several successful Google Ad Words Pay Per Click campaigns including: Attractions, Things to do, Meetings and Conventions, and the Brandywine Valley Passport among others. The overall click through rate is currently 3.34%.
- VisitWilmingtonDE.com received several new pages, as well as content updates and page refreshes. Content included itineraries, are overviews, E-Newsletter Archives, and the home page.
- Website traffic has increased 121% from May '10 to May '11 and organic search traffic has increased 93%.
- Future projects include an enhanced mobile website, home page navigation updates, live twitter feeds, and a user navigation study.
Marketing and Sales Meeting Photos (@ UD Courtyard)
Right click and choose "View Picture" to see full size
Historic New Castle Alliance and BBB Joint Mixer Photos (@Buena Vista Conference Center)
Right click and choose "View Picture" to see full size
