[OMS_MANAGERS] Flower Basket Program

[Ariel M. Reker]

We changed our flower basket program this year, but I'll do a quick
explanation for both. A little background, back in the late 90s, the
previous Main Street organization purchased the banner brackets and banners
for a portion of our Main Street. When BCD got started in 2018, they
fundraised for a local welding company to create the flower basket hangers
to match the same section of Main Street that has banners.

In previous years, our Design Chair took flower basket orders (same
flowers, different colors) in January and gave that to a local nursery. The
baskets are huge and cost $48 each. The nursery then notified our Design
Chair when the flowers were available for pickup and delivery (after
Mother's Day). BCD would cut a check for all the baskets at this time too.
Design Chair would then have volunteers with trailers drive to the nursery,
pickup flowers, and then coordinate delivery and pickup downtown. BCD would
then be reimbursed when the businesses/building owners would either drop
off a check or pay via square. A note here, we did not receive payment for
one $48 flower basket from May 2023 until two weeks ago. So there's a small
risk there. One of the main issues we've run into are folks buying baskets
and then not watering them. We tried purchasing flower basket pots that
have a reservoir to keep them watered longer, but people still didn't water
and then would be upset with us.

This year, in partnership with Crossroads Carnegie Art Center to help
celebrate Gary Ernest Smith's final retrospective show
<https://crossroads-arts.org/exhibits/towards-home-the-artwork-of-gary-ernest-smith>,
we fundraised to extend the banner brackets and flower basket holders all
the way down Main Street. Crossroads fundraised for the show by having
special banners made for the show this summer with Gary's work displayed
all down Main Street. To help take the pressure off our businesses as well,
BCD is purchasing all the flower baskets (that way we can control the
colors), and developing a watering program to maintain them and keep them
alive. A water tank and trailer have already been donated, but we are
working on a vehicle to pull it; along with a volunteer calendar to water
everyday this summer. If this falls through, we should have enough funds to
work with a local landscaping company to handle watering for us. The cost
increased to $50 per flower basket, but we are seeking sponsorships for the
flowers this year and in future years to make this sustainable.

I can answer any questions that come up too!

Ariel M. Reker
Executive Director
[image: Picture]
Baker City Downtown
P.O. Box 1148
Baker City, OR  97814



On Thu, Feb 15, 2024 at 5:19 PM <director.mfcda at gmail.com> wrote:

> Any and all info- she is doing “R&D”
>
>
>
> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf Of
> *Lise Grato
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 15, 2024 5:19 PM
> *To:* Oregon Main Street Network Members <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Flower Basket Program
>
>
>
> Are you looking for logistics and costs or sponsor info?
>
>
>
> Lise
>
>
>
> Lise Grato
>
> Executive Director
>
> Albany Downtown Association
>
>
>
> W: (541) 928-2469
>
> C: (541) 905-2908
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of
> director.mfcda at gmail.com <director.mfcda at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 15, 2024 5:17:22 PM
> *To:* 'Oregon Main Street Network Members' <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* [OMS_MANAGERS] Flower Basket Program
>
>
>
> Hi Everyone!
>
>
>
> If any of you have documentation of your flower basket programs, please
> send them on to me. My design Chair wants to get this going on a wide scale
> this year!
>
>
>
> Can’t wait to see you all this year!
>
>
>
> Yours,
>
> *Maryelizabeth E. Garcia *
>
> *Executive Director *
>
> *Milton-Freewater Chamber Downtown Alliance*
>
> www.mfcda.org
>
> W: (541) 938-5563
>
> C: (509)212-6313
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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