Presentation in Ithaca, NY in March 2016 about Town Gown Relations in Livingston County, NY focusing on SUNY Geneseo, the Adopt-A-Business Program, and the Center for Inquiry, Discovery, and Development.

1. SUNY Geneseo
and Downtown Revitalization
College & Community

2. Livingston County Downtown Partnership
● 3 Programs with SUNY
○ Class Projects
○ Main St. Manager Intern Program
○ Adopt-A-Business Program
● Goals
○ Students invested in the community
○ Interactive learning-with community
stakeholders
○ Fresh perspective and new skill sets for the
community

3. Class Projects - Dr. Mohan Communication Dept
● Comn 341: Public Relations Case
Problems
● Primary Research-SWOT analysis
● Develop a brand strategy including
○ Identify target markets
○ Develop logo, tagline
○ Develop an integrated marketing and
communications plan
● Sample projects include
○ Village re-branding
○ Business marketing strategy
○ Non-profit fundraising strategy
○ Strategic plan for an artisan colony
○ Asset map for Livingston County
○ Buy local strategic plan
The Riviera: Building
Reuse Study
Fundraising

4. Sample Projects
Logos &
Taglines
Events &
Brochures
County-wide
magazine

5. Student Intern Program
● Paid internships- private donor
● Avg. 10 hours/week during
semester
● Maintain the inventory of all
downtown buildings and
businesses (9 villages) including
up to date contact information
● Work with business owners to
coordinate group promotions
● Attend merchant group meetings
● Supervised by Downtown
Coordinator
Main St Interns Past & Present

6. Main Street Manager Interns
● Geneseo, Mt Morris, and Dansville
● Coordinate downtown business
marketing: group promotions,
festivals, and community
newsletter

7. Proximity to Campus
Geneseo Main Street is
steps away from the
SUNY Geneseo Main
Campus

8. Group Promotions

9. Community Festivals

10. Community Newsletters

11. Adopt-A-Business Pilot Program
● Fall 2015 to Spring 2016 program
○ 37 SUNY Geneseo students of a variety of majors
and years
○ Matched with 22 Livingston County Businesses
from 3 different downtowns
○ Both students and businesses applied to be in the
program
○ Matched up based on social media preferences
and abilities
○ Students work on a volunteer basis

12. Adopt-A-Business Accomplishments
● Businesses receive hands-on help
● Students learn about new
businesses and products in the area
● Relationships build and connections
are furthered
● Businesses bring in new customers
and reach new audiences

13. Adopt-A-Business Obstacles
● Students sometimes need
motivation to work with
businesses consistently
● Businesses struggle to
maintain communication
● New businesses hear about
the program and want in
○ Demand difficult to
accommodate

14. Outstanding Results on Facebook
Students teach business owners how to use their accounts
● Learn how to boost posts
● How to set up informative social media pages

15. Outstanding Results on Other Social Platforms
Two accounts from businesses working with students
● Both had been created and forgotten about
● Students were given permission to take a hold of them

16. Social Media Classes for Small Businesses

17. GENESEO for the Public Good
Center for Inquiry, Discovery, and
Development
● Student Ambassador Program
● Institute for Community Well Being
● National Fellowships and Scholarships
● Edgar Fellows Program
● Clinton Global Initiative University

18. Center for Community
● Volunteerism and Service
Learning
● GOLD Program
● Livingston Cares
● Letchworth State Park
Nature Center
● Geneseo Landing in Red
Hook

19. Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of
higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national,
global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a
context of partnership and reciprocity.
The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and
university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private
sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance
curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens;
strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal
issues; and contribute to the public good.
Carnegie Community Engagement Website

21. Questions?
Carol Long, SUNY Geneseo Provost
long@geneseo.edu
585-245-5531
Louise Wadsworth, Livingston County Development Downtown Coordinator
wadsworth@livingstoncountydevelopment.com
585-243-7124
Molly Downey, Main Street Manager Intern- Mount Morris & Dansville/ Adopt-A-Business Student Leader
mainst.manager@gmail.com
585-243-7124
Caroline Wilson, Main Street Manager Intern- Geneseo
geneseomainst@gmail.com
585-243-7124