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03.05.24 UHCAMC PresentationThe Hill Boulder UHCAMC Presentation March 5, 2024 Who We Are The Hill Merchant Association (“The Hill Boulder”) is a non-profit organization (501c3) committed to supporting a vibrant culture and a thriving business community in the University Hill commercial district. We are a joint effort of business owners who want to share the Hill with residents, students, and visitors. Our organization was originally founded in 1955 and was revived in 2015 after a few decades of inactivity. What We Do ●Intermediary between COB and Hill merchants/property owners ●Host and assist with events in UHGID ●Host regular merchant meetups ●Monthly business newsletters ●Social media marketing for the district & its businesses ●Maintain district website ○Business directory ○Available commercial property directory ○Resources for business owners, incl. Ambassador info. ○Event calendar Accomplishments, 2015-2019 ●Tax district creation ●Hill Event Street ●Hill Hotel project ●Lighting and alley improvements ●Hillanthropy & engagement w/ IFC, CU ●Hosted city council candidate forums & walking tours ●Hosted Slide through the City, CWA Happy Hour, and music performances on the Hill Event Street Clockwise from the upper left: Hill Event Street performance (2018); newly-designed Event Street logo (2017); 13th St. Slide the City photo (2015, credit: CBS); CWA Happy Hour on Event Street (2017). Accomplishments, 2020-2022 ●Connected businesses w/ covid-19 relief resources via weekly newsletters ●Assisted businesses with outdoor dining pilot program ●Live from the Hill summer concert series (2020, 2021) ●Collaboration w/ MAPR Agency for Hill Event Street & LFTH marketing ●Received ARPA funding to increase staff hours & marketing budget ●Marketing & communications improvements: ○Acquired and merged Facebook pages, increasing our following 800% to 23K ○Resumed regular social media posting ○Began running paid advertising to promote the district ○Redesigned user-unfriendly website that was getting almost no traffic ○Monthly business newsletters ●Supported events hosted by CU & businesses ●Resumed regular Hill merchant meetups post-pandemic Clockwise from the upper left: Live from the Hill performance on Hill Event Street (2021); outdoor dining expansion (2020); Live from the Hill promotional graphic (2021); Event Street banner created by MAPR (2020). Accomplishments, 2022-2024 ●Marketing & communications improvements: ○More official monthly business newsletters through HubSpot ○Launched new website on Citylight platform ○Hired photographer to take high-quality photos of Hill businesses ○Launched user-friendly business and available commercial property directories ○Business resources database ○Commissioned illustrated district map ●Launched Hill Ambassador program w/ DBP & CU ●Quarterly merchant meetups held in Crown Institute conference space ●Family Fun Block Party (2023) ●Continued support of Hill Hotel project ●Business support re: Ordinance 8590 Clockwise from the upper left: new THB website (2022); Family Fun Block Party ice cream truck (2023); FFBP balloon artist (2023); hired photographer Sink photo (2022); Hill Ambassador power washing (2023). Google search metrics since 2022 new website launch Our challenges: ●Our additional $10k/year from ARPA funding runs out EOY, which will halt the progress we’ve been making since 2022 ●Hill merchants can’t currently afford membership fees ●Lack of money & business support for BID/DDA ●Long-awaited Moxy Boulder and Limelight hotel/conference center will lose crucial support & the district will struggle to capitalize on the new year-round business What we need: We’re asking UHCAMC to push for a commitment from the city to continued $20k yearly funding for The Hill Boulder over 2025-2028. Why: ●Hill stakeholders have worked hard to get the Hill Hotel project off the ground – they deserve to see returns on that investment ●It will take a min. of 3 years for the Hill to see those returns ●We have to keep our momentum going to ensure that the hotels are coming into a successful, supported district ●It will take continued support from the city to capitalize on the hotels and create synergy with downtown Questions? What does UHCAMC need from us?