'What's up Downtown' meeting set

The Community Redevelopment Agency's new marketing consultant Gray Dog Communications has taken a tried-and-true approach to an old problem: How to market the downtown and disseminate information about what's going on?

Gray Dog's owner Casey Wohl has scheduled the first meeting of "What's Up Downtown" for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, at Charlie's Steak and Seafood.

"It's something a little more informal for anyone who has a stake in the downtown," said Wohl on Thursday. "Realtors, residents, businesses, just about anyone."

The restaurant is located at 113 S. Commerce Ave., behind Sandy's Circle Cafe.

"The purpose of these meetings is to develop a more cohesive downtown business unit," she wrote. "They will provide a forum for anyone interested in Downtown Sebring (consumers, retailers, businesses, elected officials, realtors, etc.) to meet and exchange ideas and provide feedback once a month, as well as receive updates about downtown."

Wohl said she learned about the "What's Up Downtown" concept while living and working in Orlando as the executive director for the Florida Turfgrass Association.

It was very effective there.

Orlando's Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency held monthly "What's Up" meetings, and still do, and she thought she'd try the idea here.

She plans to use the time to inform people about the Sebring CRA's new Web site and how they can link up.

She said she will present her final concept at the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at 368 S. Commerce Ave.

"When people brainstorm, great ideas come about," she said.

"The concept itself sounded good to me," said Pete Pollard, CRA executive director. "It's a means by which we can communicate with our merchants, businesses, and advertise events and activities at the same time."

Social networking such as Twitter will also be discussed.

"With social media (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter) becoming so popular and the impact it's having on society, and it's a positive impact, it's getting people to communicate again," said Pollard.

"It's the wave of the future. You can either get on the train or wait at the station. It's changing very rapidly."

"What's Up Downtown"

First meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Charlie's Steak and Seafood