City of Gonzales July 2021 – June 2024 Contract
Summary of Work
Our Role
Since 2015 Armanasco Public Relations has been actively engaged in promoting the City of Gonzales--focusing on the City’s uniqueness, responsiveness to development, community partnerships, economic/environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, and proactive efforts to build a healthy community. In addition to promoting the Gonzales’ many accomplishments, primarily through media relations, we have been a resource for city leadership for grant writing, award applications, message development, and various other writing projects.
Objective of our Work
• Increase awareness of the City’s accomplishments and promote the success of the community
• Position the City as a regional leader
• Promote Gonzales’ Economic Development vision, …” safe, healthy, diverse, sustainable community with small town charm…”
• Draw attention to city leadership’s forward-thinking approach to projects and the strong relationships and partnerships that have been developed Over the last three years our efforts have increased the overall awareness of Gonzales, provided the city grant funds, boosted economic development in Gonzales, strengthened and expanded partnerships, and the positive exposure can help to increase the opportunities available for future funding.
Summary of our Work 2021-2024
Award Applications
• 2022 League of California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence, Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government for the Gonzales Youth Council Mental Health Project
• 2023 National Civic League All-America City Award & developed talking points for team’s presentation in Denver
Grant Writing Assistance
• 2021 and 2022 US Conference of Mayors Childhood Obesity Prevention – Healthy Gonzales Initiative - received $25K
• 2024 worked with city leadership to develop a white paper outlining fire department needs. This information has been used in several grant applications. • 2024 Department of Water Resources (DWR) grant for a mass notification system to notify residents during emergencies – $49,875.00 grant tentatively approved on March 19th. Final decision pending.
• 2024 Office of Transportation Safety (OTS) Emergency Medical Service grant for new extrication rescue tools – $42,933 grant tentatively approved on July 8th • 2024 FEMA AFG grant application for new fire engine – grant review in process, decision pending
Marketing Pieces
• 2021 Coastal Grower Ad: Microgrid Project
• 2022 Monterey Bay Economic Partnership Ad
Other Writing Project
• 2021 letter to President Biden regarding 90% vaccination rate • 2021 letter to Congressman Panetta to support microgrid act • 2022 Gonzales Growth whitepaper about housing needs
• 2023 League of California Cities Helen Putnam award article • 2023-2024 State Budget Request Report Documents Rivas and Caballero’s offices (wastewater treatment facility)
• 2024 article for Monterey County Business Council Program – Community Builder Award Media Relations: Press releases and media pitching
• Articles Written by Syndicated Columnist Joe Matthew’s: Zocalo, Connecting California o 2021 The Huge Electric Leadership of a Small California Town o 2021 What Makes a Good Small Town? Small Towns Can Create Big Change o 2021 Why California’s Lettuce Lands are Unlikely Vaccination Leaders o 2021 Q&A with Gonzales City Manager Rene Mendez
o 2022 It takes a Village to Tackle the Teen Mental Health Crisis • Articles Written by APR for Coastal Grower
o Summer 2021 Coastal Grower: New Microgrid in Gonzales Promises Major Benefits
o Fall 2023 Coastal Grower: The City of Gonzales is Getting Closer to Building a Major Community Center
• Press Releases
o APR wrote 89 press releases between 2021-2024. As a result of our press releases and media pitching 110 articles have been written about Gonzales during that time.