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It’s a slightly off-kilter midwinter promotion - Green Lights! The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) is reminding residents, businesses and communities to show their support for the National Heritage Corridor while enjoying increased tourism and business during a traditionally lack-luster season. TLGV is asking everyone to show the colors by lighting up green between Jan. 15 and March 17.
Everyone can be part of Green Lights by changing out at least one light bulb with a green-colored, energy efficient one during the winter months. Over the past two years, Green Lights has produced incredible green displays in Main St. business districts as well as on private homes and in municipal parks.
Green Lights offers local businesses an opportunity to reach a greater audience between Jan. 15 and St. Patrick’s Day. Using Green Lights as a regional promotional umbrella, TLGV is asking restaurants, accommodations, shops and other businesses to come up with creative ideas utilizing the Green Lights theme. Having a clearance sale? Make it a Green Lights Sale! Want to increase lunch traffic? Offer a Green Plate Special! Want to attract new customers? Offer a discount on everything green in your store! Planning community events? Try a family-friendly Green Lights snowman contest! There are countless opportunities - and those promotional ideas can change as frequently as a business desires during the two-month celebration. Don’t miss out on this free promotional opportunity!
“Participation last year was remarkable and we look forward to even more friendly competitions between towns and businesses this year,” said Charlene Cutler, TLGV Executive Director. “If many businesses in all 35 towns of the National Heritage Corridor participate, and municipalities and residents show their Green pride, we can make Green Lights a very important economic driver for the region.”
Already, one of TLGV’s Walktober walk leaders has planned a special walk on St. Patrick’s Day as a finale for Green Lights. The town of Thompson will be hosting a Green Lights Bonfire this winter.
The mid-winter season is traditionally the least significant for tourism. TLGV points out that 26 million people live within two-three hours of The Last Green Valley. Tourism has an economic impact of $234 million annually to the region.
Of the 1.67 million visitors to the National Heritage Corridor each year, 74% are day-trippers who return 5.7 times each year. Each one of those visitors spends on average $725 when they come to the region. Green Lights could have tremendous impact if the whole region rallies to the promotion.
TLGV will be listing all business promotions and community events on its website, in its press releases and on its Smart Phone apps. Contact Valerie Imre, Program Coordinator, to be included in this promotion.
Green Light Kits for businesses and nonprofits will be available soon from TLGV for a nominal fee. The package will include everything needed to participate in the event and will be able to be reused each year.
Funded in part by a grant from Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Tourism, Green Lights is being promoted through publications like Yankee, Connecticut Magazine, and the Rhode Island Traveler.