GROVER BEACH
Economic Development Agreement
Visit Grover Beach
& Buy Local Program
Report from South County Chambers
4 th quarter 2022 and partial 1st quarter 2023.
Agenda Item No. 2
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Three Surveys have been
conducted during the last 5 months.
Top 3 concerns for Grover Beach
Businesses
Labor Shortages
Inflation
Cash Flow
Three Surveys have been conducted during the last 5
months.
Top 3 concerns for Grover Beach Businesses
Labor Shortages – Worse in certain sectors like restaurants and entry level positions in general
Inflation – Soaring cost of goods continues to cut into the bottom line. Especially hard hit is the restaurant sector Cash Flow – With a reduced profit margin in the 4th quarter due to inflation. Reserves are low for many businesses. First quarter tends normally trend low in Business to Consumer businesses creating a more stress on these businesses. Again, Restaurants appear to be the most vulnerable right now
In the restaurant sector we are aware of
several restaurant closing in surrounding
communities.
Dr. Bernstein's Ice Cream stores abruptly
closing
Coco’s in Pismo Closed
We are working closely with restaurants
in Grover Beach to monitor their progress
Expect prices consumers pay for goods
and services to continue to rise
Expect staff shortages to continue to
lead to reduced hours of operation in
the Business to Consumer sectors.
TRENDS
In the retail sector we see similar vulnerabilities and signs of concern
Recent announcement of retail closures
Bed, Bath, and Beyond in Arroyo Grande
TRENDS
OPPORTUNITIES
As doors close – those looking to hire can tag and share that they are looking to hire those recently laid off
Chamber will be hosting a Resource Fair in late May/early June to connect businesses with job seekers, posting sites, and HR resources related to recruitment and retention
Chamber will resume industry specific roundtables and continue to monitor successes and pinch points within specific industries.
VISIT GROVER BEACH
Contract for Visit Grover Beach
expired in July and was on a monthby-month basis until a review of goals and expectations was conducted.
In October, the month to month and
contract with Lovely Day was put on
pause and the decision was made to
bring Visit Grover Beach social media
and website in house.
Due to the success of social media coming in
house, the Chamber has agreed to continue
to maintain Visit Grover Beach as part of our
contract with the city for Economic
Development.
Website updates will start in March as we
continue to support business growth and
economic vitality in the tourism sector as well
as all other sectors of business in Grover
Beach
VISIT GROVER BEACH
This data shows us that there wasn’t a plan in
place to use hashtags, key words, partners,
or algorithms to reach outside of our region
to promote Grover Beach as a destination to
major CA markets such as Los Angeles,
Bakersfield and San Francisco.
This will be a key component of our
marketing strategy now that Visit Grover
Beach has been brought in house.
This combined with our success in adding
content, number or followers and
engagement will take us to the next level in
our tourism marketing strategies.
BUY LOCAL
For this round of the Buy Local
program, the City of Grover Beach is
purchasing approximately two
hundred $25 gift cards from Grover
Beach restaurants, breweries, and
wineries.
Receipts totaling $100 or more
can be uploaded here or mailed to
South County Chambers, PO Box 672,
Arroyo Grande CA 93421 and request
a free $25 gift card. This gift card
program will run February 12th
through March 17th. For questions,
please email
[email protected], or
call (805) 489-1488.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
‘Buy Local’ gift card program launches February 12,
2023, for Grover Beach restaurants.
GROVER BEACH — The popular Buy Local gift card program in Grover Beach is coming back specifically for your dining enjoyment. Starting February 12, when a shopper spends $100 or more at a Grover Beach restaurant, brewery, or winery the shopper will be eligible to receive a $25 gift card to another local restaurant. To claim the gift card, shoppers need to upload their receipt of $100 or more to southcountychambers.com, or mail receipts to South County Chambers, PO Box 672, Arroyo Grande CA 93421. They will receive a confirmation approval based on verification that the receipt is from a qualified Grover Beach restaurant, brewery, or winery and that the purchase or purchases were made between February 12, 2023, and March 17th, 2023. The confirmation email can then be taken to the California Welcome Center in Grover Beach and redeemed for a $25 gift card to another Grover Beach restaurant, winery, or brewery.
Current gift cards will be distributed randomly. Unfortunately, substitutions will not be allowed, however we always encourage you allow the establishment a chance to impress you.
BLAST OFF!
The Launchpad opened in late April
2022.
Less than one year later it is running
between 80 and 90% occupancy. All
office spaces are leased. The open
seating space is being booked more
and more as a workshop space and
proving successful in filling that desire
to learn by small business and
entrepreneurs.