San Diego Community Newspaper Group and La Jolla Village Merchants Association have teamed in a business partnership aimed at fulfilling the missions of both groups.
The association “looks to build its image and bridge the gap of stores being left vacant due to ever-changing rents, and developers removing retail from mixed-use development,” said association president CA Marengo. “In this effort, the [association] has noticed that they weren’t getting positive reinforcement from the local media after efforts to sustain bouncing back from a downturn in the economy.
“Every time we would try something new, we would get criticized by local media instead of supported,” continued Marengo.
Subsequently, Marengo said, the association decided to “turn it all around by interviewing local media sources to support our local merchants.
“Out of all the media agencies that answered the call, we were proud to hear the passion of the La Jolla Village News and their interest in our local successes and needs,” Marengo said. “We are proud to have selected La Jolla Village News as our media partner, and [are] proud to grow with them, in this momentous time of change, into a new chapter for this fine Village of La Jolla, where we can embrace our local businesses and support them into a very successful year in 2015.”
San Diego Community Newspaper Group publishes three independent community weeklies: The Beacon, covering Point Loma and Ocean Beach Beach & Bay Press, covering Mission and Pacific beaches; and La Jolla Village News. Publisher Julie Main said she’s looking forward to continuing with this “natural” partnership between the newspaper and the Business Improvement District.
“The La Jolla Village News is not only a respected source for news and information to the residents of this dynamic community — we also provide a viable marketing and advertising tool which helps support and build a strong local commerce,” Main said.
Main noted it’s a “win-win” to work alongside Marengo and association executive director Sheila Fortune to “help in the betterment and long-term improvements that [business improvement districts] bring to the business community. Our goal is to assist in educating the businesses and public about how the [association] works and how it can aid each individual business within the boundaries of the [business improvement district].”
Pointing out that merchants “don’t always understand the individual benefits” of a business improvement district, Main said that “More information brings more understanding, involvement and long-term benefits for La Jolla.”