Adapting in the Ever-Changing Media Landscape

Ventura County Public Works Agency uses National Public Works Week (NPWW) as an opportunity to bring positive attention and awareness to the multitude of ways in which they serve the community of Ventura County.  Launched in 2012, the event has grown from a small poster display to touring over 1,000 students, teachers and the community for an in-person tour of VCPWA interactive informational booths, demonstrations, and hands-on learning opportunities focusing on what Public Works does for the community.

With the onset of Covid-19, CM+PR reviewed the situation, and also realized the youth, now working from home, needed additional curriculum! With VCPWA Consortium Media took on the challenge of adapting the in-person event attended by over 1,000 students, teachers, and families to tour the educational displays into a virtual event, accessible to everyone.

DELIVERABLES

Event Planning, Event Management, Website Development, Website Design, Social Media, Content Strategy, Radio Promotion, Press Outreach, E-Blast, Event Coordination, Video Editing

CM+ Solution

We saw National Public Works Day as an important opportunity for the public to connect with VCPWA, the ultimate goal of the in-person event was to engage schools through targeted outreach. After months of planning the popular in-person event, COVID-19 halted all plans from moving forward, so we switched gears and go virtual.

While there were no in-person demonstrations, CM designed a webpage that brought the curriculum of many innovative programs to students and teachers who were currently distance learning from home. The clean, user-friendly webpage housed the virtual curriculum that teachers, students, and their families could access from the safety of their homes. The virtual tour showcases the dedicated team at VCPWA using videos, demonstrations downloadable activity books, and other interactive materials.

In addition, CM utilized our 5 Pillars of Marketing Success to elevate the event’s brand awareness. Through strategic social media management, radio promotions, and press outreach to the local community, we were able to promote the event but also inform the community of the work VCPWA does for the County of Ventura.

CM+ Results

The website, which was launched Monday, May 18, had over 513 views in the first day, not including the views on VCPWA’s social media pages that contained video teasers and other various pieces of information to help highlight the event.

1,226

Web Page Visits

51,473

Social Media Impressions

14,295

Total Social Media Followers