In the first two articles describing the many functions of the Washington Harbor District Alliance’s purpose, we touched on the Main Street Four-Point Approach, and the first approach was organization. Today, I would like to discuss for you No. 2 — promotions.

The promotion team has a goal to encourage both locals and tourists to shop, dine and play to help sustain and grow our business district. Washington has a very unique business district in that our businesses stretch from Water Street to almost Third Street and points beyond. This committee has a far-reaching goal and one that has to be appreciated. Reaching its goal with the objective of building our community, while creating a climate for economic success and growing public awareness, is essential in many ways. There has to be well-planned actions and strategies in place to be used. Some such strategies are to incorporate the shop, dine and play advertising campaign on a quarterly basis and tie it to existing events, and survey the businesses to measure the impact of their efforts. Also, this committee will continue to coordinate and support existing events: Music in the Streets, Summer Concerts, Farmers Market, Hometown Holidays, Taste of the Good Life, July 4th celebration, Washington Marine Market, Picking on the Pamlico, and establish a new Memorial Day event. The promotion committee will also use these events to bring people to our business district to shop, dine and play during what seems to be our slow months of February and August.

Promoting Washington is not hard, but the committee is always seeking volunteers and new events to help in its efforts. If there is a reader who has an idea and would like to share it, please do not hesitate to call our office. If someone wants to be placed on our volunteer list, again, let me know. Volunteers are the heartbeat of our WHDA and we never can have enough.

While I write, we need volunteers for Music in the Streets each month and Picking on the Pamlico in August.

The WHDA will always embrace our historic port town’s past and hopes to help grow its future through promotions. Our intention with these articles is to help all of our citizens have a better understanding of WHDA. Next week we will discuss the WHDA’s Design Committee and all it does to help beautify our beautiful waterfront and our business district. Until then…hope you will shop, dine and play local, and…take a walk with the H-Rob!

Harold Robinson is the executive director of Washington Harbor District Alliance.