TMCnet News
Grand Lagoon coalition breaks down endeavors [The News Herald, Panama City, Fla. :: ](News Herald (Panama City, FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 21--PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A group of Bay County business owners are hoping to keep the momentum going for a new coalition selling Panama City Beach's "Gateway to the Gulf." Members of the Greater Grand Lagoon Business Coalition met Wednesday to discuss the organization's accomplishments thus far and set new goals moving forward. The coalition formed earlier this year and has since been working to come up with strategies to market the area and ensure the east end of the beach is not left in the shadows of the growing Pier Park area. Founding member and Patches Pub owner Vince Greiner provided a rundown of the group's efforts, which include the development of a Grand Lagoon brand, a website and a social media presence. "We have momentum, and that's the important thing we've got to keep going," Greiner said. "We did a lot of great things this year and we got a lot of exposure." Other efforts included a series of commercials on Beach-TV, and some new events, including an Independence Day weekend celebration with fireworks over Grand Lagoon. Greiner said the coalition has built a relationship with the Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC), opening additional funding opportunities for future events and marketing. "The TDC is excited to have a group they can come to for our area," Greiner said. "We have a great relationship with them, so we have to keep it going. It benefits everyone down here." With funding from the TDC this fall, the Grand Lagoon area will host its own event for the annual Pirates of the High Seas Festival, complete with a pirate invasion and fireworks show. Moving forward, the 18-member coalition hopes to continue to grow membership and develop new events in the area. Coalition member Tom Putnam, the owner of Half Hitch Tackle, said the big push for the coming year will be to involve smaller businesses in the area. To encourage participation, the coalition offers both full memberships for $2,000 annually and associate memberships for $800 annually. Putnam said the organization's strength ultimately comes from the unified message it communicates. "To get us all working together, a lot of positive stuff comes from that," Putnam said. "Networking is the most important thing." ___ (c)2014 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |