Subject: Business outreach activities for the month of March, from our Friends at METRO Date: Monday, March 05, 2007 11:43 PM The following is an update of business outreach activities for the month of March. METRO Area Coordinators Construction in Line Section One (LS1) through Line Section Five (LS5) continues. If you would like more information regarding construction in Phoenix, Tempe or Mesa, contact the appropriate Community Outreach Coordinator: LS1 - Dee Hidalgo-Coe or 602-495-8233 or dhidalgo-coe@valleymetro.org LS2 - Amy Bratt, 602-495-8217 or abratt@valleymetro.org LS3 - Monica Hernandez, 602-322-4427 or mhernandez@valleymetro.org LS4 - Gary Flunoy, 602-322-4457 or gflunoy@valleymetro.org LS5 - (Mesa) - Erin Seibel, 602-495-8213 or eseibel@valleymetro.org LS5 - (Tempe) - Carla Reid, 602-744-5552 or creid@valleymetro.org Please welcome Dee Hidalgo-Coe to the Area Coordinator Staff. She is the new LS1 Community Outreach Coordinator, replacing Cristina Lenko, who has left the project after 7 successful years. Dee previously held the position of LS4 CAB Specialist and is looking forward to working with the businesses and residents in LS1. METRO Construction Signage Program The following is the breakdown of the number signs and banners that have been issued to businesses along the 20-mile alignment: 542 A-Frame signs 341 Banners 883 Total A-frame signs and banners METRO MAX Program The purpose of the METRO MAX Program is to implement cost-effective, creative tactics and strategies to draw patrons to businesses affected by light rail construction. The program includes marketing, public relations and advertising elements. To date, 230 businesses have enrolled in the program. The following is a breakdown of the number of METRO MAX brochures that have been distributed and mailed over the past two years. 2005 - Approximately 250,000 Brochures were distributed, and approximately 400,000 water bill customers and employees of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Maricopa County received information on the program via mail and e-mail. 2006 - Approximately 150,000 Brochures were distributed, and approximately 400,000 water bill customers and employees of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Maricopa County received information on the program via mail and e-mail. For convenience, all METRO MAX participating businesses have been listed on the project website. You can access this list at www.metrolightrail.org . A new edition of the METRO MAX brochure is scheduled for April. At that time an additional 100,000 brochures will be distributed and an additional 400,000 will be mailed and e-mailed to water bill customers and employees of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Maricopa County. METRO Business Outreach Brochure METRO will soon complete the third edition of the METRO Business Outreach Brochure. The brochure will be different from the previous two business outreach handbooks. It will be more user-friendly and will direct businesses along the light rail route to a variety of programs that have been developed specifically to assist light rail businesses during construction. In the first quarter of 2007 brochures will be mailed to the approximately 4,000 businesses along the 20-mile alignment. ASU Market Needs Assessment Program The Marketing Needs Assessment utilizes qualitative and quantitative measures to help companies make effective decisions in a rapidly changing marketplace. This innovative tool was designed especially by the W. P. Carey School of Business Spirit of Enterprise Center to support and complement other assistance resources available to companies on the light rail corridor. A Center team of volunteer executive coaches, entrepreneurial and corporate executives work with the business students as they implement the assessment. The primary purpose is to provide Phoenix business owners with recommendations on how they might better market their business. To date, 108 businesses have enrolled in the program. City of Phoenix MTA Program The Management Technical Assistance (MTA) Program is staffed by experienced consultants who are business owners from the Phoenix area. These consultants can assist light rail business owners with marketing and advertising plans, technology development, human resources issues, business planning, and even loan packaging. To date, 250 businesses have received assistance from the MTA Program. Tempe Asset Assistance Program Businesses located along the light rail route in Tempe are eligible to participate in the Tempe Asset Assistance Program. This program can provide up to $20,000 to help with additional advertising costs, rent, payroll, etc. Mesa Cash Flow Assistance Program The Cash Flow Assistance Program was created to help businesses in Mesa, during light rail construction along the light rail route. These business owners are eligible to apply for a $20,000 credit line from US Bank. This program was created for the business owners by US Bank, The City of Mesa and the Small Business Development Center. METRO Business Outreach Partners In an effort to utilize existing business assistance programs in the region, METRO has established partnerships with a variety of federal, state and local service providers. These partners have been an important part of our programs successes. The types of programs include marketing, advertisement, loan packaging and business plan development assistance. The following are partners that provide valuable assistance to light rail businesses: APS - Academy for Small Minority & Women Owned Enterprise (AAAME) Arizona Department of Commerce (ADOC) Arizona Minority Business Development Center (AMBDC) ASU W.P Carey School of Business Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) Grand Canyon Minority Suppliers Development Council (GCMSDC) Maricopa Community Colleges Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Mesa Chamber of Commerce Mesa Office of Economic Development National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development ((NCAIED) Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) Phoenix Community & Economic Development Department (CEDD) Self Employment Loan Fund (SELF) Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) Tempe Economic Development Office Tempe Chamber of Commerce Tempe Schools Federal Credit Union US Bank U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) METRO Business Outreach Coordinators Contact Information If you are interested in the above programs or have questions, contact your Business Outreach Coordinators. Ruben Landa Business Outreach Coordinator - Phoenix 602-495-8230 - office 602-292-1493 - cell rlanda@valleymetro.org Erin Siebel Business Outreach Coordinator - Tempe/Mesa 602-495-8213 - office 602-214-6454 - cell eseibel@valleymetro.org Thank you and have a successful March.