| During the
Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project, some stations
were temporarily closed. CTA worked with businesses
that were affected by these station closures by providing
assistance and marketing materials through the CTA Small
Business Outreach Plan. |
| |
| Eligibility |
| Small businesses
within two blocks of affected Brown Line stations were
eligible to benefit from the CTA's Small Business Outreach
Plan. There were two different levels of service within
the plan — one for businesses within one block of the
station, another for businesses within two blocks of
the station. |
| |
| Plan
Components |
| Within
One Block of the Station |
| Advertising
on CTA Car Cards on Trains and Buses: |
| • |
CTA designed and placed car cards
in unsold ad space on Brown Line trains, including
logo and address information for Brown Line businesses,
encouraging customers to continue to support the
businesses impacted by construction. |
| • |
A series of car cards were designed
with the various business names and logos so all
interested businesses were accommodated. Several businesses
were included on each car card. |
| • |
The value of this advertising was at
least $10,000 (for trains only), plus the cost of
production. |
|
| To participate,
interested small businesses provided CTA
with an electronic version of their name and logo for
placement in the ads along with the appropriate
station form, below. |
| |
| Within One
or Two Blocks of the Station |
| Marketing
Materials: |
| • |
"Open for Business" Poster – A poster
for display, reminding customers and passersby that
the establishment is open for business during
construction. |
| • |
"Open for Business" Postcard Template
– A postcard template was provided for businesses
to use to notify customers that they were open for
business during construction. The template was
provided on CD-ROM. |
| • |
Progress Posters – Posters depicting
the ongoing progress of the Brown Line Capacity Expansion
Project were created and sent to businesses for
display. Posters were updated and distributed
as appropriate. |
| • |
Informational Letter – A letter to
business owners detailing the project and information
specific to nearby station construction, such as
a schedule of temporary station closings and existing
alternate service. |
| • |
Brown Line Fact Sheet – A one-sheet
overview of the construction, proposed dates of closures,
facts and statistics on the project that business
owners can provide to customers visiting their establishments. |
|
| |
| Applying
For Plan Benefits |
| Small
businesses that were located within one or two blocks
from affected CTA stations and were interested in receiving
the benefits of CTA's Small Business Outreach Plan
submitted the appropriate station business
form (PDF): |
| Paulina
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Wellington
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Damen
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Irving
Park
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Southport
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Diversey
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Montrose
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Addison
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Armitage
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Sedgwick
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Chicago
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Kimball
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Francisco
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Kedzie
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| Rockwell
Station Business Form - Enrollment Closed |
| |
| Additional
Guidance |
| In addition
to advertising and marketing materials, the Chicago Entrepreneurial
Center (CEC), a non-profit affiliate of the Chicagoland
Chamber of Commerce, provided guidance and resources
to local businesses affected by Brown Line station construction
and closures. |
| The CEC
seeks to make a perceptible and lasting economic impact
on the Chicagoland region by helping employers and high-growth
businesses build viable, sustainable and profitable enterprises. |
| For
more information about the CEC, visit www.chicagolandec.org. |
| |
| Contact |
| For
questions about CTA's Small Business Outreach Plan, contact: |
Jeff Wilson
Chicago Transit Authority
E-mail: jwilson@transitchicago.com
Telephone: 312-681-2712 |
| |
