From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: Correct Map - Business Outreach Update - March, 2005 Date: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 1:36 PM I hope everyone is having a pleasant week thus far. Now that the Metro groundbreaking has taken place, construction is now slated to begin on March 7th in Line Section Four (see attachment). With the beginning of construction now set, our efforts to assist businesses will undoubtedly increase as numerous businesses have been contacting Valley Metro Rail to learn more about our business assistance programs. The following is an update of all business outreach efforts for the month of March. Promotional Program Kick-off The Valley Metro Rail Promotional Program, which includes a discount card program and a business directory, was renamed the Metro Max Card and the Metro Directory, respectively. The kick-off for this program is scheduled to begin in late February/ early March, just prior to track construction. The kick-off includes public relations efforts to secure media coverage to promote the Metro Max Card. Once the “soft launch” of the Metro Max card is completed, we will wait a few weeks to launch the advertising campaign for the card, to ensure that we have worked out all the bugs. A supply of Metro Max Brochures will also be made available to all participating businesses and public/private activity centers in the partnering cities. The directory will also be distributed sometime after the launch of the Metro Max Card to businesses and residents along the route. We will be sure to let you know when our supply of brochures and directories are in so that we can provide copies to those who request them. Business Outreach Event - Phoenix The City of Phoenix and Valley Metro Rail will be providing information regarding their efforts to assistance businesses at the Construction Kick-off meetings of each Line Section. The date, time and location are being finalized for each Construction Kick-off meeting and will be provided to everyone as soon as the information is available. The first kick-off meeting will in Line Section Four (LS-4) and that meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8th at 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Pueblo Grande Museum (44th @ East Washington Street). Business Outreach Seminar- Tempe/Mesa The City of Tempe and Mesa, in conjunction with East Valley - SCORE and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, will be conducting a business outreach seminar aimed at preparing businesses for light rail construction. The date, time and location are being finalized and will be provided to everyone as soon as the information is available. LRT Procurement Workshop The partnering cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa will be conducting an LRT Procurement Workshops for all businesses along the 20-mile alignment. The purpose of this workshop is to educate the businesses on how to take advantage of the many procurement opportunities that Valley Metro Rail and the partnering cities have to offer. The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23rd at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at F1 Race Factory (48th Street @ East Washington Street). Food will be available at this event. An invitation postcard will be sent to all light rail businesses and Business Outreach Partners during the second week of March. In addition, we will be inviting the various local providers to take part in the workshop. Miscellaneous Information The second volume of the Business Outreach Handbook is now available. I have sent all Business Outreach Partners a supply of ten copies of the handbook. If you are interested in receiving additional copies, please let me know and I will be more than happy to do so. If you have any questions about any of the information above, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me. I have expanded my distribution list for my monthly business outreach update. This may be your first update. If you are interested in receiving the updates for January and February, please let me know and I will be more than happy to forward them to you. Thank you and have a great March. Ruben I. Landa Business Outreach Coordinator Valley Metro Rail, Inc. 411 N. Central Ave., Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-495-8230 Direct 602-292-1493 Cell 602-271-9361 Fax 602-534-1807 Community Office rlanda@valleymetro.org _____ To unsubsribe, Click Here