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A Few Clouds Long Beach launches new video series to promote businesses
Initiative is part of a year-round marketing campaign
The city recently launched a new online video series to help promote local businesses, part of an ongoing marketing campaign launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy aimed at attracting visitors to town throughout the year.
At the Dec. 15 Long Beach Chamber of Commerce meeting, City Manager Jack Schnirman announced that the city was awarded a $300,000 state grant for 2015 through the “very competitive” Market New York Program. The funding was part of the $82 million awarded to Long Island by the state’s Regional Economic Development Council for various projects.
The “City of Long Beach, New York: More Than Just the Beach” marketing initiative “will be a continuation of our marketing campaign aimed at increasing both summer and year-round business,” Schnirman said. “Marketing has proved in the past to help keep our businesses successful and encourage new business ventures, and we anticipate these new funds will boost economic growth in the new year.”
Schnirman said the campaign is part of the city’s Economic Development Department’s continuing effort to apply for grants and bring in public and private investment to the city.
In 2013, the city launched an advertising campaign, “Long Beach is Open for Business,” that included a series of television commercials featuring Long Beach native Billy Crystal to attract visitors to town in the aftermath of Sandy. The initiative cost approximately $700,000, with $500,000 in funding from New York state, while Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Citigroup both contributed $50,000 each toward the effort. That marketing effort was followed by a winter tourism campaign.
Schnirman said that the city is currently working with the chamber to develop more programs and events to help businesses in the winter months. That includes the new video series, which will highlight local businesses throughout the year.
Kyle McCarthy, who works for the city’s Recreation Department, is working with the city’s Economic Development Department, chamber and local businesses to create the series, beginning with local coffeehouse Gentle Brew.
