Sonoma County high on well-being index
Smile — folks who live in the hub of Sonoma County are among the happiest people in the United States. Residents of the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metro area are, to be exact, the fifth most content Americans living in large and medium cities.
Boulder. Co. topped the list. Bringing up the rear was Huntington, W. Va., at 162, with Modesto one notch ahead
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on interviews with more than 353,000 Americans during 2009, asked individuals to assess their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional state of mind and their communities. The study looked at areas with a population above 250,000.
Four other California regions made the Top 10: Santa Barbara/Santa Maria at 6; San Jose/Sunnyvale at 7; and Oxnard/Thousand Oaks at 10.
In individual categories, Santa Cruz topped the ‘healthy behaviors’ list. For ‘emotional well-being,’ the prescription is Cedar Rapids, IA.
County tourism board wins marketing awards
The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau received three Adrian Awards for achievements in advertising, public relations, and web marketing in the travel industry.
“The Adrian Awards are the benchmark of excellence in hospitality and travel marketing around the world,” said Ken Fischang, CHME, CMP, president/CEO of SCTBSCTB.
The bureau won a silver award for the Sonoma County Fabulous campaign; a bronze for Inside-Sonoma.com; and a bronze for “Postcards from Sonoma Country,” a radio campaign.
“I’m most proud of the fact the winning programs were created and executed by our own staff,” Fischang said. “It’s a great honor to work with such talented and creative people. I also applaud our board of directors for allowing our staff to take chances and discover innovative marketing outlets.”
The Adrian Awards, conducted by the global Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), embraces all segments of the travel industry including hotels, airlines, destinations and more. Winners are selected from a field of 1,300 entries by senior industry and media experts.
The county tourism bureau is the destination marketing organization for Sonoma County, and markets Sonoma County as a leisure, business and group travel destination. Tourism generates in excess of $1 billion annually for the local economy.
Loan program to spruce up Springs businesses
Does your Springs area storefront need a make-over? The Springs Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program will soon be available for business tenants and property owners located in the Springs Redevelopment Project Area along the Sonoma Highway Corridor.
The following types of improvements may be eligible for funding:
• New painting and plastering
• New awnings and/or canopies
• New signage and graphics
• New windows and doors
• Parapet wall alternations or
improvements
• Exterior lighting improvements
and related electrical work
• Landscape and irrigation
system
improvements
• New exterior tile work
• Other rehabilitation
improvements
If you currently operate a business and you lease or own commercial space in the Springs, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Sonoma County Community Development Commission’s Redevelopment Agency
For more information on program guidelines contact Redevelopment Associate Al Lerma at 565.7523
