The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a new monthly initiative to better acquaint residents and non-residents with the City of Ravenna. Beginning on Oct. 10, the RACC will present the monthly RVNA Explorer Program, a day-long self-guided tour throughout the City.
“We are trying to not only get people to downtown Ravenna but also to surrounding areas; so the thought process on this is that we pick some businesses not only on the east side, center and west side of town in addition to the surrounding area,” RACC Executive Director Ryann Cline told The Weekly Villager on Sept. 17.
Beginning in October, the RACC will design a digital directory that can be found on its website for anyone interested in going on a self-guided tour throughout the City. The Program will occur on the second Saturday of each month. The first Program will include eight participating businesses and will begin on the opening of Megan’s Family Restaurant’s usual start time of 7:30 a.m.
“We have tried to schedule it around those types of time frames,” Cline said. “They can offer something special for that given day.”
Those interested will have the opportunity to visit selected businesses that have volunteered to be included in the self-guided tour. The businesses will remain open for normal hours while the participants will get to spend the day not only learning about some of the local businesses that Ravenna has to offer but the overall landscape of the City and its surrounding area.
According to Cline, the RACC designed the RVNA Explorer Program as a follow-up to the popularity of the annual Scavenger Hunt, which occurred earlier this summer.
“Some families were running because it started raining that day. They were running and having a good time trying to complete the scavenger hunt card so that was a good thing,” she said. “They enjoyed the experience of going into some different businesses that they had never been into before so it was how can we keep that momentum but also expand it into a broader area.
She added that it stemmed from a meeting earlier in the year consisting of local business leaders and officials, during which they voiced concerns about the safety of downtown Ravenna and wayfinding.
Cline said that the RACC’s response to alleviate those concerns was to create a monthly self-guided tour that would promote foot traffic and encourage friendly community participation.
“I know Main Street Ravenna is currently doing their Fourth Fridays and those are gaining some success but just offering another opportunity for people to support and educate and experience the Ravenna downtown community,” she noted.
She added that the self-guided RVNA Explorer Program is not only beneficial to non-residents but also to residents as well, acknowledging that residents are not well-versed with the type of businesses that are in Ravenna.
“We are looking to advertise outside of Ravenna for this event or for this initiative and get that going as well because that is a huge part too,” Cline said. “We want to be proud and we want to show people that there is quite a bit that Ravenna has to offer and it can get overlooked.”
Cline said that the ultimate goal is to promote the City of Ravenna but emphasized the importance of the RACC encouraging local businesses to stay their current venues in the City and promote interest from both residents and non-residents.
“I am trying to connect with those types of businesses that are on the outskirts as well so while you are going to your next suggested tour or spot, you can actually be driving around the community and say, hey, I did not know this was here,” she said. “It just slows you down, so you get the opportunity to see what is offered.”
She added that the self-guided RVNA Explorer Program could be a good way of encouraging people who are interested in moving to plant their roots in the City.
“It is an opportunity,” she said. “We have a hope and we have the imitative, and passionate people behind it. As far as it being successful, that is what we are looking for.”
