Downtown Association of Santa Cruz
 

 

Welcome to the DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS' Page. Here you will find valuable information about the Downtown Association as well as useful links and resources to help you thrive as a Downtown business and stay intouch with the Downtown Community. Please let us know if you find this information useful, as well as any thoughts on how we can better assist our business members.
Promotions
Business Resources Your DTA Clean Safe and Friendly Parking and transportation Community

This Week
Downtown Tuesday
Downtown Dollars
GOODTIMES Page
Radio
First Fridays
Ecocoupons

Free Workshops
Facade Improvement
DTA Mentors
Space Available
Grow Santa Cruz
What's Next

The Board
Meetings
Associate Members

Hospitality Program
Outreach Workers
Downtown Police
Ordinances
Graffiti
Employee Programs
Visitor Parking
Local Transportation

Happy Hour
Facebook
Associate Members

 


DOWNTOWN EVENTS and PROMOTIONS

This Week Downtown

Each week the Downtown Association sends out an electronic newsletter, listing a number of the great things Downtown has to offer.

Our list reaches over 1000 people in the Downtown community directly, and is forwarded on to many more. This is a great opportunity to promote any special events you have going on in your business. Workshops, guests speakers, specials, anything that you want to get the word out about, let us know and we'll help.

in addition to the e-mail we will post your event on the website under the appropriate category.

Make sure to let us know if you are participating in Downtown Tuesdays, First Fridays, or if you just have something going on that we can let people know about.

Melanie@DowntownSantaCruz.com

Subscribe to the list here

DTA Event Listings

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Ecocoupons

EcoCoupons is an eco-friendly alternative to printed coupons for local shoppers and businesses. Send coupons to your mobile device or print only those that you will actually use. Save money while supporting local businesses and reducing paper waste.

By partnering with Ecocoupons, businesses get the following:

* The ability to post and manage unlimited coupons for your business.
* A business profile page with you logo, contact info, and a link to your website
* A map of your business location
* A photo gallery for your business
* Statistics on who is using your coupons and how often.

All for only $10 per month! There are no set-up or cancellation fees, and there is no time commitment. This is a month-to-month subscription based service.

To find out more about Ecocoupons, contact Eric Ressler.
eressler@ecocoupons.org, 440-8710.

www.ecocoupons.org

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The Downtown Dollars

The Downtown Dollars program continues and shoppers are still purchasing them and cashing them in.

Downtown Dollars is a simple gift certificate program that unifies and promotes the downtown business community.

Downtown Dollars each have a $10 value and are accepted around Downtown in exchange for $10 worth of goods and services.

Here's how you can participate.

- Accept Downtown Dollars at your business. All Downtown Dollars used at your store will be redeemable through the Downtown Association at 100% of face value. By signing up as a participating merchant you will be included in the promotional materials surrounding the program, and shoppers will be encouraged to spend at your business. Each participating store will be given a small display sign indicating their participation. You will be reimbersed for the full value of all Downtown Dollars you recieve.


- Buy Downtown Dollars. Purchase them yourself and use them as bonuses for your employees, thank you gifts for your faithful customers or however you choose to take advantage of the program.


* Be creative. Think of special promotions in conjunction with Downtown Dollars and we'll promote it.

Questions? Email us at Melanie@downtownsantacruz.com or call 429-8433

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Downtown Tuesday

Tuesday is locals' night Downtown.
This is our chance to say thanks to our best customers and our community. Let us know about your specials and special events and we'll post them on our site and get them out to the e-mail list.

Also check out the DTA Happy Hour each week at a different place. Join your business neighbors for a fun informal gathering.

In addition to promoting your Downtown Tuesday specials through our site We have arraqged a special deal with KPIG Radio to promote your specials.

Questions? Email us at Melanie@downtownsantacruz.com or call 429-8433

Need a Downtown Tuesdays poster for your window? Click here to download one!


Coming soon. The DTA will be randomly giving prizes to downtown customers wearing the I Heart Downtown Santa Cruz Button.

Let us know if you would like some buttons!
Also feel free to use the button on your promotions!

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Good Times Downtown Page

Did you know that the Good Times has a special advertising program exclusively for DTA Members? By taking advantage of the DTA / Good Times partnership, you have the opportunity to Market your business to 113,000 Good Times readers, and reach the whole county. The Downtown Page offers you one of four large ads on a full color page for only $250 per insertion.
To participate in this great program or for More information, call the Good Times at 831.458.1100

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Downtown on the Radio

Each week on Tuesday afternoon the Downtown Association presents "The Downtown Santa Cruz Radio Show" broadcast live on historic 1240am KNRY radio. The Show features a range of businesses and attractions in the Downtown neghborhood. If you are interested in participating as a guest or as a sponsor, contact Chip@DowntownSantaCruz.com

Downtown Tuesdays on KPIG.
The Downtown Association is working with KPIG Radio to promote Downtown Tuesdays and the great specials throughout Downtown. If you are interested in promoting your Tuesday specials for a very affordable cost, contact John Coulter at 658-3188


First Fridays Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts presents First Friday Santa Cruz. Every month, art lovers circulate around town, mingle and experience great shows in a variety of venues. To participate in the event, contact Kirby Scudder with the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts, and be sure to let the DTA know about your events.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Free Workshop Series

Small Business Survival Skills

Bring your own Brown Bag lunch and learn the skills every small business owner should have to create and maintain a healthy and successful small business.

Cost: Free
When: Second Thursday of each month, 11:45 to 1:00pm
Where: The Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church Street, Upstairs Meeting Room

2/11/2009 Tax Tips - It's not what you earn, it's what you keep!
3/11/2009 Selling on Ebay - Clicks and Mortar, not just Bricks and Mortar
4/8/2009 Business Start-Up Camp
5/13/2009 Search Engine Optimization - Can your customers find you?
6/10/2009 Viral Marketing- Get the word out!
7/8/2009 Quickbooks -- the very basics
8/12/2009 Customer Relationships - Your best sales tool
9/9/2009 Local Resources for your small business - There is help!
10/14/2009 Understanding the numbers -  Boring?  No! Fun and Essential!
11/11/2009 Free Tech Tools- The Price is Right!

Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, California Small Business Development Center,
Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries,
City of Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency

With the generous support of Bay Federal Credit Union

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Mentor Program

Starting a business can be a daunting and overwhelming process. If you are new to Downtown or if you are considering locating your business in Downtown, the DTA is happy to help connect you with some of the business owners who have gone through the process and are able to help you navigate the many steps to starting or growing a business.

From finding a reliable plumber, to understanding which POS system is best for you, to understanding the various permits and fees required, the DTA can get you help from your Downtown neighbors who want you to succeed.

For more information contact Chip

 

Space Available

Powered by the Santa Cruz Department of Economic Development and redevelopment


View Pacific Avenue / Downtown in a larger map 


What's Next

The What’s Next Lecture Series kicks off its five-part innovation program with a look at “Sustainability and Social Innovation: Doing Well by Doing Good,” on February 18. Presented by NextSpace Coworking + Innovation, the City of Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency, and UC Santa Cruz, the year-long series will explore current thinking, best practices, and trends in sustainability; discuss social innovation; and examine how brands and the media are framing this business shift.

The inaugural lecture on February 18 — from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz — will feature Peter Meehan, CEO of Newman’s Own Organics; KoAnn Skrzyniarz, CEO of Sustainable Life Media; and Joshua Levine, vice president of the SRI Wealth Management Group at RBC. Sandy Skees, CEO of Communications4Good, will moderate the panel as it explores trends and success factors in companies that combine profitability with a social and environmental mission.

“With this series, we’re excited to offer an in-depth look at the critical role innovation plays in addressing some of the most pressing challenges and amazing opportunities facing the world today,” said Jeremy Neuner, CEO of NextSpace. “We believe that the Santa Cruz region can be ground-zero for worldchanging innovation by leveraging our strong local community, our world-class university and our local entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Tickets for the February 18 lecture at Kuumbwa cost $15; students may attend for free, but must register in advance. For more information or to purchase tickets, see www.whatsnextlectures.com.

Sponsors include Drew Miller Insurance, Communications4Good, Studio Holladay, the Santa Cruz Weekly, and KUSP radio.

Facade Improvement Program

The City of Santa Cruz is committed to supporting the development of its commercial areas. The redevlopment agency has been working through out the city to improve appreance from painting of exterior buildings to landscaping. The Facade Improvement Program provides grants to buisness and property owners in the Downtrown area. For more details please click here

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Grow Santa Cruz
Flexible Term Loan Financing for City of Santa Cruz Businesses


The City of Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency and the National Development Council (NDC) have established and capitalized Grow Santa Cruz to assist eligible small businesses within the city of Santa Cruz to obtain the financing from $50K to $300K for working capital, equipment, construction, land or buildings.
In order to qualify for these loans, a business must be:
~ A for-profit existing business
~ Financially healthy and in need of expansion capital

For more information and an application package please contact:
SANTA CRUZ REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Peter Koht, Economic Development Coordinator
337 Locust Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420- 5154
pkoht@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us

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YOUR D.T.A.

The Board

If you have business in the Downtown Business Improvement Distric you are a member of the Downtown Association.

The Association is funded by an assessment of businesses and governed by a Board of Directors comprised of members. Working with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors sets long-range goals and policy, develops action plans, creates budgets, assumes financial responsibility and guides the organization towards its objectives.

The Board also works through committees to advance the goals of the organization. Committees work on relevent issues and present reccommendations to the Board for Action.

If you are interested in participating on a committe or serving as a Board Member, please contact the Downtown Association or talk with any of the current Board Members to learn more.

Downtown Association meetings are open to all members and participation is greatly encouraged. See meeting schedule.

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Board of Directors, 2010 Session

Board Officers:

President of the Board, J.P. Correa, (Vinocruz)

Vice President, Emily Bernard, (Dell Williams Jewelers)

Chair, Community and Civic Relations Committee, Patty Zoccoli, (Zoccoli's Deli)

Chair, Promotions and Marketing Committee, Chip

Chair, Membership Committee, Emily Bernard, (Dell Williams Jewelers)

Board Members:

Germaine Akin, Red Room/Red Restaurant/ 515 Kitchen and Cocktails

Emily Bernard, Dell Williams Jewelers

J.P. Correa, Vinocruz

Warren Grande, Bank of the West

Karl Heiman, Cafe' Pergolesi

Linnaea Holgers, Artisans' Gallery

Andrew Lenz, Lenz Arts

Ian McRae, Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room

Rick Melrose, Riordan Winnett Travel

Susan O'Leary Reuss, Graphfix Gallery

Patty Zoccoli, Zoccoli's Deli

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Meetings

All meetings are held at the Downtown Association's office at 903 Pacific Avenue, Suite 202 and are open to the membership. Membership participation is strongly encouraged.

Board of Directors*
3rd Tuesday of every month
8:30-10:00am

The Board of Directors is charged with carrying out the Mission of The Downtown Association: To provide effective leadership in order to promote and sustain downtown as a unique and economically viable business, entertainment, social & cultural center.

Community and Civic Relations
1st Wednesday of every month
8:30-9:30am

The Community and Civic Relations Committee advises the Board on issues relating to downtown social issues and creates strategies for advocacy.

Promotions and Marketing *
2nd Wednesday of every month
9 :00-10:00am

Membership*
1st Thursday of every month
8:30 -9:30am

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CLEAN SAFE AND FRIENDLY

Santa Cruz Police Department

Emergency 911,
Non- Emergency 471-1131

Reporting crime is one of the best ways of preventing future crime. When you take action, it shows the community that criminal behavior will not be tolerated. The Downtown Association encourages you to call the police whenever you see illegal behavior, and to follow up with SCPD. You can ask the police to call you after they have taken action. This way, you know that the police have responded, without any danger of identifying you as the one who reported the crime.

SCPD Dispatch prioritizes calls, so do not hesitate to report any crime, regardless of the degree of severity. If we as a Downtown want a safer community, we need be willing to take action and follow through to hold the offenders accountable.

The SCPD Sergeant for Downtown is Michael Harms.

To anonymously report a crime, call the Downtown Tip Line at 420-5974.
To report items abandoned on the sidewalk, call the Police Dept Lost and Found at 420-5900.

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Downtown Hospitality Program

539-9405, 539-9474

The Hospitality Guide Program’s (HGP) mission is to assist in promoting a clean, safe, and friendly atmosphere for shoppers, residents, employees and visitors. This mission is accomplished in the following ways:

  • Providing information and directions to shoppers, visitors and residents alike.
  • Providing a visible presence in the Downtown area and assisting in maintaining compliance with municipal codes by using educational outreach.

Call the Hosts when non-emergency action is required, such as noise complaints, aggressive panhandling, skateboarders, bicycles, dogs, sitting on sidewalks in prohibited areas etc.

The Host Program serves Pacific Avenue, from Water to Laurel Streets, plus the side streets for one block in each direction.

Hours of Operation:
Memorial Day - Labor Day: 11:00am-7:00pm
Labor Day - Memorial Day: 10:00am - 6:00pm

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Outreach Social Worker

566-3608

Among the many of us who spend time Downtown, there are a few who are in need of help. One of the bigger challenges Downtown is connecting those in need with the appropriate services. The Downtown Outreach Social Worker is specifically trained in addressing a wide array of social needs, from those needing shelter and a meal, to mental health issues and substance abuse services and rehabilitation. She is available Monday through Friday, and is also happy to answer any questions and provide information on mental health and homeless resources, services and issues.

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Downtown Ordinances

Being informed of the Ordinances Downtown will help you keep your downtown Safe.
Download the DTA's Ordinance Summary here.(pdf)

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Graffiti Free Santa Cruz

420-5303

The mission of Graffiti Free Santa Cruz is to maintain the natural beauty of our city by preventing and removing graffiti through community involvement, eradication, education and enforcement.

How to effectively report graffiti:

  • Use the 24-hour line to report graffiti on public or private property in the City of Santa Cruz. (If you get involved, it increases the chances of the suspect being caught and successfully prosecuted.)
  • When reporting vandalism in progress, give the following information: a description of the person, the location of the crime, what the object is that is being tagged, and the substance being used (paint, markers, stickers, etc.).
  • If the graffiti is on public property, City staff will remove it. If the graffiti is on private property, Graffiti Free Santa Cruz will contact the property owner, and can provide assistance in removing the graffiti if needed.
  • SCPD takes photos of the graffiti and if a vandal is apprehended, the cases reported in the past year are searched for photos of matching tags. The vandal can be charged with the previous cases in addition to the original case. This can result in stiffer penalties.
  • Adopt a spot (big or small) in your neighborhood or place of work and keep it free of graffiti.  Graffiti Free Santa Cruz will provide you with the tools and supplies for removing it.

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