Chelan business group starts wildfire readiness campaign

The Historic Downtown Chelan Association is forming a group to precede the need for response to wildfire and other natural disaster.

The association’s Aimee Sheridan says the idea is to develop a plan to assure a year-round economy that supports local business.

Sheridan says Chelan's economy runs on 100 days of summer and wildfire season, “routinely steals weeks from that window.”

The group reports that last year, fires were a contributor to decreasing lodging tax revenue by 11%. Sales tax revenues were down by 2.6%. In comparison, data from August 2015 found lodging tax revenues down 52.6% in a single month.

Sheridan said in a news release that, “When the smoke rolls in tourists cancel. Foot traffic into businesses disappears.”

An Economic Resilience Program — funded by a grant — is specifically designed to protect Chelan businesses before, during, and after fire season disruptions.

Participating businesses will have a plan, a toolkit, and a coordinated response already in place.

The idea is to offer a personal digital audit of a business website, keeping information up-to-date, linking the website to social media and the on-line association calendar of events.

A complete marketing toolkit includes crisis communications messaging, e-commerce support promoting online sales through ChelanShops.com, a new website soon to be launched, and a “Love Where You Live” campaign.

Joining the Historic Downtown Chelan Association is the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, City of Chelan, Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority, NCW Tech Alliance, and others.