Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-13 PACKET 11.COTTAGE GROVE To: Economic Development Authority Members From: Kenneth Smith, Community Services and Communications CoordinatorC° Date: September 13, 2011 Subject: 2011 EDA Golf Tournament Update The August lo EDA golf tournament held at River Oaks was a fun event with lots of buzz. We had 18 groups that included developers, engineers, bankers, and local Cottage Grove businesses. We will be making an aggressive focus for the 2012 tournament. We have put together a plan with targeted dates for each step along the way that we will share with you every month. It is our goal to use the EDA golf tournament as a way to enhance our presence as a business destination and viable partner. We will begin this by using our existing relationships with brokers and settled businesses to help us attract their clients and future customers. We ask that you assist us by putting the date of August 14, 2012 11:00 am on your calendar and joining us at this event by doing one or more of the following: • Play golf • Help greet and register golfers • Taking pictures • Greet golfers in the beverage cart • Share dinner and award distribution with everyone As always, City staff will help in all areas to make next year's event smooth, seamless and memorable. Please spend the year talking this event up to your friends and colleagues. CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE MINNESOTA 2011 EDA Golf Tournament review notes August 25 meeting (Ryan, Joe, Ken, John M, John B, Robin, Neil) Our Goals • What is our goal? (128 golfers maximum to ensure rapid play plus have a good showing), thank folks that got us here business wise. Bring people to tournament who might have interest in Cottage Grove /job creators like Werner. • Perhaps have a theme for the event every year like (Strawberry Fest) Things to Keep at the 2012 event • Wine as drawing prize was good • Staff shirts were good • $25 gift certificate is good. Keep gag gifts • Keep Chicken and Steak dinner CG Logos • Provide golf tees with growth partner's logo to all players (can cozies, logo on golf balls ?). • Have a table at the "turn" to hand out fruit, cookies, candy bars or water with city's name on it. Mailings • Send save the date cards early. • Review mailing list... buy ED list. • Give our marketing material to Werner or other companies and let them give this out to their visitors (clients). • Send out letter to Business Park tenants and ask who they would like to see invited from their customer and client lists. • Create and send out a River Oaks brochure with registration materials. Comp • Who will we comp and why? Anyone we can attract to the Business Park. • Bring a (developer, end user, builder, broker, banker) and we will comp your play. EDA Participation • Have EDA members participate in the tournament. (Offer them the opportunity to assist at registration desk, take pictures, ride in beverage cart and/ or attend the dinner. Signs and Information • Have sign saying longest drive, closest to pin (etc) at the hole. • Get out message about baskets, contests with materials. Put on big board the day of. ITY OF • ROVE MINNESOTA • When Bruce gives his information about the tournament he could give info about baskets and contests. • Put tournament info in cart between driver and passenger. • Make sure signs at holes are up to date. • Consider new signs for golf holes (upgrades will cost more money). • Put signs on Hwy 61 of event sponsors leading up to RO entrance. Start at Kingsborough Lane and Church. • Consider beverage cart sponsorship. • Have traveling trophy at registration table. Materials Handed Out • Hand out list of golfers that gets updated after registration. • Have gag award sign -up at table when they come in for dinner at the same time score cards are collected. • Buy prizes ahead of time and include notice of major prizes / premiums in registration materials. Economic Development • Ask Current Business Park Tenants who they would like to see near them in the Business Park. • We are marketing River Oaks in addition to Cottage Grove; every mailer should market that message. Staff Strategically place staff with players even if it breaks up a foursome, unless they bring customer /client. Consider letting that person(s) play for free. Coordinator or those responsible for major portions of the event should not play. Each task will have a staff member assigned to it. (Ken) Gifts • Get gift certificate redemption rate data from Bruce. • Use our store stocks as free gifts. • "Must be present to win prizes," should be noted in registration materials. • Consider a business card drawing for a golf club (Putter or wedge) to get all current info of all players at registration desk. Growth Partners Get Growth Partner Award winners to show up at least for dinner. Show last year's award winner video during dinner. (Ask them to provide us with a marketing video as this will be free marketing for the previous winners.) CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE MINNESOTA Duties • Ken will solicit duty preferences from staff as the event coordinator in 2012. • Joe will do shirts and signage • Robin in charge of duffer trophy • Wall Calendar for golf tournament to stay on task with work plan timeline. EDA Action: For your information.