The Great Falls Business and Professional Association (BPA) is hoping to roll last year's success into bigger and better things in the coming months. BPA members met last week to look at what worked for the organization in the past and to learn about opportunities for promoting and expanding the businesses in Great Falls in the future.
Last year's Taste of Great Falls celebration was so successful that the group was able to give a check for $2,000 to the Old Brogue Charities. BPA will be repeating the culinary event this year because it was so well received by the community and businesses.
According to Steven Dulaney with BPA, the group is waiting to get a copy of the Redskins playing schedule before deciding on a date to hold the event.
Mike Kearney, the head of the Old Brogue Charities, which is changing its name to the Great Falls Charitable Foundation, said the Taste of Great Falls, “was really an event for everyone in the community.” Kearney will funnel the money back into the community through the foundations charitable works.
BPA members had the opportunity to hear from local business owner George Adeler about the creation of a community business guide that will be exclusive to Great Falls companies. Adeler is spearheading the upscale production that will be printed in the style of a high-end city guide.
“This will be truly about Great Falls. It will be four-color, glossy on heavy stock. It will reflect the community in which we live in and work in,” said Adeler.
Members of the Great Falls business community can purchase advertising space in the magazine or can purchase copies of the magazine for distribution to their customer base. The magazine, according to Adeler, will be split fifty-fifty between advertising and articles about local businesses and community features.
“We wanted something that is exclusive to Great Falls. Not telling our story as a part of McLean’s story. This community has grown. It has its own personality and its own businesses here. We are very proud of Great Falls. This will finally be the type of magazine that will reflect who we are today,” said Adeler.