2015 FSHP Byway Annual Report Form

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Scenic Highway: Big Bend Scenic Byway

Form Completed by: Pam Portwood

Email address: pportwood@outlook.com

Telephone number: 850-544-6133

Section 1: Completed Projects Did your byway organization complete one or more projects in 2015?

Yes – If more than one project was completed in 2015, make a blank copy of Section 1 starting at “Completed Project #1.” Paste this blank copy into the report below Project #1 and change the project number for each subsequent completed project.

√No Completed Project #1 1. Project Name:

2. Category/Type (highlight one category that best describes the project):

Physical or built – scenic pull-out, landscaping, wayfinding signage, interpretive panels/kiosks, visitor center, etc.

Planning – CMP update, interpretive, marketing, wayfinding, master plan, etc. Organizational Development – fundraising plan, strategic plan or retreat, accreditation, etc. Program – cell phone app, website, beach cleanup, map, Kids Ocean Day, etc.

3. Project Cost

Government Grant(s) (federal, state, or local) $

Private (individual donations, business sponsors, foundations, special events, membership)

$

Earned Income (merchandise sales, fees for programs, etc.) $

In-kind value $

Total Cost $

4. Project Dates:

a. Start Date (can be prior to 2015) MM/YYYY: b. Completion Date (must be in 2015) MM/YYYY:

5. Project Lead

Did the byway organization lead the project (obtained/helped obtain funding, managed project, etc.)? Yes or No (highlight a response) If No, please indicate the project lead and describe the role the byway organization played:

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6. Description of the project (this description should include all information needed to develop a 2-3 paragraph article about the project):

7. Lessons learned from the project: What worked well? What would you do differently? What elements were critical to success?

8. Project impact: What is known about the economic, quality of life, and/or environmental impacts of the project?

9. Byway goals addressed: What planning goals are addressed by the project?

10. Please list and describe the role of all project partners: Please email 3-5 high-resolution photos of each project that the FSHP has permission to include in Program publications.

Section 2: Other Accomplishments and Ongoing Projects 1. Please describe any other noteworthy accomplishments from 2015 not included in the Completed

Projects section. Also discuss any ongoing projects that were not completed in 2015. The Big Bend Scenic Byway is currently working on our last two National Scenic Byway Grant Awards. Our Wayshowing and Interpretation Plan Implementation (over $800,000 grant award) has been a very complicated project because it involves constructing kiosks/signs on properties owned by several different municipalities, counties, and public land managers. Separate agreements between Leon County (the grant’s administrator/grantee) and the owners of each site (more than 30 different sites) were all executed during 2015. The next step is the issuance of the RFQ/RFP for the design/build of the kiosks/signs. The CME is working closely with Leon County and FDOT to verify the interpretive elements for each site and will also work hand-in-hand with the design/build contractor to provide the text and imagery for the kiosks/signs. The current expected completion date of all construction is Spring 2017. The other NSB grant project began in 2015: “Making the BBSB Accessible to All”. This project includes the development of a BBSB Accessible Tourism Plan, Marketing Plan, and Implementation Plan. Work completed as of December 2015 included assessing over 177 attractions, services, lodging, and restaurants to determine what level of accessibility each provided. A team of 12 “Accessible Tourists” with varying degrees of disability were sent to major attractions throughout the byway as “secret shoppers” to rate and identify barriers to accessibility. This information has been compiled and the first draft of the Accessible Tourism Plan was completed. The Marketing and Implementation Plan (as well as all other aspects of the project) will be completed in March 2016.

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Section 3: Previously Completed Projects and Byway Resources 1. Please describe the significant benefits or positive impacts from projects completed prior to 2015.

Name the project and summarize any impacts or measures of success in all areas below that apply: Since receiving state and national designation (2007 and 2009 respectively) the CME has completed a Wayshowing and Interpretation Plan, established a website, produced marketing materials (rack cards and tear-off maps) and implemented an integrated directional signage plan. Significantly, the Partnership formed with the Department of Economic Opportunity, through participation in the Regional Rural Development Grant Program, began in 2011. The funding provided through the 2011-12 RRDGP was leveraged with other byway resources to build professional capacity for the BBSB CME organization, increase economic development opportunities through tourism product development, and establish a BBSB Accessibility Plan. Tangible results to date of the initial increased capacity include: successful integration of the Byway's logo and brand into all marketing materials and programs of Byway enterprises and businesses (- e.g., Dixie Theatre marketing/promotional materials include prominent placement of the byway logo); development and update of key BBSB interpretive/marketing materials such as the Guide to the Big Bend Scenic Byway, and the BBSB 3-year Calendar; participation in State and National Scenic Byways Conferences – including facilitation of a workshop/presentation on Byway Wayfinding and Interpretation at the National conference; organization and coordination of the Big Bend Scenic Byway Accessible Tourism Symposium; and completion of a Big Bend Scenic Byway Accessible Tourism Master Plan. These efforts – led to success in raising over $200,000 in cash support from the local governments, municipalities, community organizations, and public land managers along the byway, over $800,000 in grant funding from the National Scenic Byway Program to implement the entire BBSB Wayshowing and Interpretive Plan, and over $125,000 from the National Scenic Byway Program to begin implementation of the BBSB Accessible Tourism Master Plan.

2. Please describe any damages or threats to resources (i.e., resources that contributed to the scenic

highway designation) that occurred in 2015: None that we know of.

Section 4: Public Participation & Partnerships 1. Describe how byway stakeholders (residents, business owners, local government officials, and

partners) were routinely updated about the scenic highway in 2015. The BBSB CME is made up of representatives from every public land manager, municipality, county TDC, and several other attractions throughout the 220-mile corridor. In 2015, the CME met 4 times (quarterly) and were updated on the activities of the byway at the meeting and through email distribution of the minutes of each CME meeting.

2. Are there issues or concerns regarding the scenic highway in corridor communities? In 2015, the biggest issues/concern expressed by communities and the CME representatives was the fact that the BBSB has no paid staff to help manage the marketing and project management activities for the byway. As of January 2016, the BBSB hired an Executive Director that will be paid from funding received by the Department of Economic Opportunity.

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The only other concern voiced to the CME by the communities was the length of time it is taking to implement the Wayshowing and Interpretive Plan (described in Section 2 above). Unfortunately, there is no way to move faster on this project based on the requirements of the grant funding.

3. How are new byway organization members, leaders, and volunteers recruited? There is no formal process in place for recruitment of new members, leaders, volunteers. However, the 2016 DEO funding includes the development a recruitment plan (as well as a concerted effort to “revitalize” the existing CME).

4. Is there evidence that more stakeholders are involved/interested in and/or aware of the scenic highway (more people receiving newsletter, attending meetings, volunteering, etc.)? Not in 2015.

5. With how many stakeholders does the byway organization routinely communicate (meeting notices, newsletters, etc.)? Our CME meeting notices, meetings, and other communications go to approximately 55 stakeholders.

6. Describe how the byway organization assisted its partners in 2015. As stated previously, the byway has had no paid staff for more than 3 years. Over the 2015 year, volunteers from the CME have worked with our partners to keep the Wayshowing/Interpretive Plan Implementation process moving. We also provided letters of support for various partners who were applying for grant funding for projects along the byway. Finally, our CME Chair, has been the administrator of our social media and website updates, including posting and sharing events/happenings along the byway throughout the year.

Section 5: Funding 1. Does your byway organization have an annual budget? (highlight a response)

Yes – Please email as an attachment to wanda.maloney@floridascenichighways.com

No – Please provide the following revenue information for 2015:

Government Grant(s) (federal, state, or local) $

Private (individual donations, business sponsors, foundations, special events, membership)

$

Earned Income (merchandise sales, fees for programs, etc.) $

In-kind value $

Total Funding $

2. Please describe your outstanding funding needs in the following categories:

a. Project(s) or program(s) that lack funding: b. Total amount of funding needed (in dollars rounded to nearest $100): c. Potential sources of funding identified:

For the 2016 Calendar Year, the byway has funding to pay for staffing and complete the two NSB projects described previously. We have a VERY ambitious schedule of deliverables from these grant funds, so

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no other funding for 2016 is being sought at this time.

3. Please list potential funding sources being pursued (if not identified above). During 2016, we will be researching and identifying potential funding sources to implement our Accessible Tourism Master Plan and increase our overall byway marketing efforts.

4. Please describe the organization’s challenges to obtaining funding. To date, our biggest challenge to obtaining funding has been having a paid staff person who could dedicate significant time in identifying and applying for funding.

5. Please describe your funding success stories from 2015. For example: a successful fundraising event or identifying a new source of funding. In 2015, we were able to identify the funding available through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Regional Rural Development Grant Program as a viable option for the byway. Because we have two large federal grants (the NSB grant described above), we are able to use that money as match toward the FDEO RRDGP grant.

Section 6: Marketing 1. Describe the marketing methods used (website, brochure, festival booths, advertisements, social

media, etc.) in 2015 for the scenic highway and the effectiveness of each. The marketing methods used in 2015 included our website, facebook page, and distribution of “The Guide to the Big Bend Scenic Byway” and byway tear-off maps. As mentioned previously, marketing efforts have been minimal because there was no paid staff to guide and manage marketing activities.

2. What was the total amount spent on marketing? All marketing efforts in 2015 were the result of volunteers that updated the website and facebook page and distributed our guides and tear-off maps to visitor centers along the byway.

3. What were the sources of revenue for marketing? None in 2015.

4. Please list the social media accounts active for the byway along with the number of followers for each (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.): Facebook – 557 likes as of 12-31-15

5. Describe any local tourism trends based on available data (number of tourists increasing, new local/regional economic impact data, etc.). Unable to obtain data by report due date.

6. Has the impact of the scenic highway on local tourism trends been identified in any way? If so, please describe. No.

7. Please describe how the byway organization is working with local tourism agencies.

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The byway CME includes representation of each of the three TDCs (Wakulla, Franklin, Leon). We work closely with these reps to help promote their efforts and ask for reciprocal promotion of the byway.

Section 7: Byway Organization 1. What is the organization’s current structure (nonprofit, informal citizen group, etc.)?

The BBSB is a Florida not-for-profit corporation. We will be applying for 501c3 status in 2016. 2. In what organizational development activities did the byway organization engage this year (training,

evaluation/assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, etc.)? None in 2015.

3. What are the organization’s greatest challenges (recruiting new members, getting the work done, obtaining funding, etc.)? Sustainable funding, staffing.

Section 8: Final Comments 1. Please list any other significant accomplishments or activities that have not been captured in this

report.