How to start a CRA Podcast

The popularity of podcasts has greatly increased over the last few years, with the number of listeners continuing to grow. The addition of a podcast to your CRA is a valuable tool in establishing long-term engagement with your community and local constituents. Below are ways to get started. Choosing a topic: First, you must decide…

How to Get Your CRA More Involved

There are currently 178 Community Redevelopment Areas in the State of Florida. When it comes to improving your Community Redevelopment Area, it is important to take the time to get more involved or collaborate with your fellow Community Redevelopment Agencies. There are multiple ways your CRA can do so: Attending relevant association meetings and annual conferences…

How to Pitch your CRA to the Media

Within any thriving business or industry, it is only natural that news coverage and news pitching should occur. But what if you have never pitched to the media? In order to promote your agency’s success and its involvement within the community and gain invaluable news coverage, it is necessary that the media cover it. Even…

How Google Analytics Can Help Measure your CRA

How can you tell if your agency’s digital marketing efforts are effective? How do you know if users are visiting your agency’s website? One of the easiest and user-friendly ways to measure your digital presence and marketing effectiveness is through Google Analytics. Why Google Analytics? Google Analytics is a helpful tool that generates information and…

Branding your CRA

When you hear the word “brand”, your mind probably does not jump to a redevelopment agency. For many, it conjures up a retail store, food product or even fashion line. Even though redevelopment agencies may not be the first thing that comes to mind, they too must establish their own branding. No matter what type…

Blogging for Redevelopment

Tell your story! Create an online blog to share news, write editorial posts about redevelopment and get people talking about your activities and initiatives. Introduction to Blogging Everyone loves a good story. Whether it be over coffee, before bedtime or around a campfire, people connect by telling stories to each other. With the advent of…

Top 10 Myths of Downtown Revitalization

Myth No. 1: Our downtown just needs one “big ticket” development to turn things around. “Rarely does a ‘quick fix’ really repair a downtown over the long haul… Downtowns that have reversed their downward spirals… have typically done so incrementally, through numerous small steps over time.” Jacksonville has practiced this idea for decades and it…

Redevelopment Media Relations

Good press is vital to the mission of any CRA. Without positive media coverage, a CRA may find it difficult to gain the support it needs to complete redevelopment initiatives and projects. Having good media relations will help the public see the value in CRA activities. So, what can you do to maximize your CRA’s…

Redevelopment Event Planning

Without engaging the public and getting involved in the community, a CRA is in danger of becoming a faceless organization and losing public support. To build a network of supporters and create opportunities for interaction between your CRA and city, plan and host events such as luncheons and forums. What events can I plan? If…

Gathering Feedback About Your Redevelopment Project

Without public support, it can be difficult for CRAs to make progress. Without knowing what the public wants, it can be difficult to gain that support. We recommend creating and using online surveys to fully understand what redevelopment efforts residents want while establishing communication and trust with business leaders, elected officials and more. Step One:…

E-Newsletter Campaigns for Redevelopment Areas

Do you want to build a list of supporters, spread the word about the good your CRA is doing and keep your local community informed about your activities? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider an online mailing list. Email marketing is a powerful tool that your CRA can use…

CRAs: Time to Get Social

Is your CRA represented on social media? If not, you are missing out on a huge opportunity for raising awareness and growing support for your CRA. Social media sites are much more than networks of friends sharing stories and pictures. Increasingly, people are getting their daily news on social media and businesses are using these…