FORTVILLE — While construction continues across the town of Fortville, the Redevelopment Commission motioned and passed a plan proposed to help promote businesses through social media and to let people know that, despite the challenge of construction, town businesses are open and welcoming customers.
Amanda McAlarney, Social Media Management LLC, spoke at the RDC meeting on Dec. 27, sharing a social media business proposal that would help promote businesses in Fortville. McAlarney said that she had worked with Denver’s Garage since their opening in 2020 and has also been the social media manager for St. Thomas Apostles Church for the last six years.
McAlarney said that after a recommendation of submitting a proposal to the RDC, she decided to create one which would use the implementation of the META Reels feature to show surrounding communities that businesses along Broadway Street are accessible.
“Fortville businesses have experienced a substantial decline in revenue since the Broadway Street road construction began in June of 2023. The decrease in revenue has effectively eliminated any or all marketing budgets for most of the local businesses,” McAlarney said. “The Social Media Proposal presented to the Fortville RDC aims to utilize social media to inform surrounding communities that Broadway Street in Fortville is open, Fortville businesses are accessible and ready to welcome you in the new year.”
Hart Summeier, member of the RDC at the time and owner of Fortville Tire, said that he is in support of the proposal and excited for it being the first of its kind. Summeier said that he’s been a supporter of the town supporting it’s business, whether that be by way of an economic development liaison, consulting agency or other.
Summeier said the RDC passed a motion back in March of 2023 to have town staff solicit proposals for outsourced economic development, however Summeier said there hasn’t been a lot of process due to road blocks, such as finding a consulting agency that doesn’t have a prior conflict — working with a close-by community that would be in direct competition.
“The fact that this proposal was brought to us, in my mind, is a step forward,” Summeier said. “Fortville has a lot to offer… The town of Fortville is open for business. We’re open for visitors and commerce. I’m hoping that’s what gets channeled by it.”
Ed Brand, appointed RDC member, said at the meeting that he personally believes Facebook isn’t a place to promote businesses and thinks this proposal should be supported by the businesses instead of the town.
McAlarney said the proposal includes a 12-day social media campaign, initiated from the Town of Fortville’s META sites and would have an estimated reach of 22.7K to 65.6K social media accounts daily.
McAlarney said at the meeting that the target demographic of Fortville primarily uses Facebook with a little use of Instagram — both falling under META. Using these platforms would aim at advertising and promoting businesses to close-by communities such as Geist, Fishers and Noblesville.
“I understand that obviously that road construction is far from complete. However, the fact that we have two-way traffic and the businesses are accessible is a significant win for these local businesses,” McAlarney said at the meeting.
McAlarney said cost estimates would be around $200 a day, and would look to have a 12-day campaign. With McAlarney working an estimated nine hours at $25 per hour, it would bring the total cost to $2,625.00.
McAlarney said it would take three to five days to put together the reel with anticipation of having some pictures that draw target demographics included. McAlarney said that within her vision, she plans to have a number of different pictures set to music for the 20-second reel and each business would have equal amount of time to not show favoritism.
Target demographics would include targeting those with higher education and higher income so that they have the disposable income to spend on food for example. Once the reel gets approved, it would then be posted by the town of Fortville’s page. The town would also retain the rights of the video.
New RDC member Chris McCreight said at the meeting that, with McAlarney’s transparency and hourly rate being reasonable, he is for the proposal.
After further discussion, there was a motion to approve the estimated expense of the proposal. The motion passed 4-1, with Brand voting no.
