KELSEYVILLE— The Kelseyville Business Association, Inc is a non-profit corporation founded in 1967 to carry out plans, policies and activities to further the prosperity and development of the unincorporated areas of Kelseyville and surrounding communities. In 2017, the KBA board challenged is members to apply that vision in an increasingly digital and connected world.
KBA undertook an extensive analysis of its communication assets including its website, social media platforms and email distribution channels. It determined that, “We had all the right pieces, but we were talking to ourselves,” said Rick White, President of the KBA. “We wanted to expand beyond our core group of members and begin reaching people who were most likely to visit our town.” Those people it turned out were right in our backyard. They are folks around Lake County who like to come out on a warm summer night for a street dance, stroll with dad down Main Street on Father’s Day or in what was our first new festival in decades, celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain – Dia de la Independencia – which drew thousands from around the county.
KBA redesigned its website around key experiences that bring people to town; wine tasting, shopping, dining & festivals. The website grew its site visitors many times over according to Google Analytics. In the most recent four-week period there were over 1,047 page visits to VisitKeleyville.com and Kelseyville’s Facebook page is now followed by 3,733 people, sometimes reaching upwards of 12,000 people and there are almost 1,000 people following Kelseyville’s Instagram page. KBA grew its opt-in email list from 92 people in 2017 to over 845 people today.
KBA also undertook a major remodeling of the old post office that was acting as the Kelseyville Senior Center and is now called the Kelseyville Event Center. With funds generated by the Pear Festival plus donations by many generous community members, KBA re-skinned the building giving it a more welcoming feel. “Many hours of volunteer time went into the exterior phase of the project,” said Annette Higday former chairperson of the project, “The community really pulled together toward a common goal.”
Next on KBA’s wish-list is looking into methods to calm traffic on Main Street to make it more pedestrian-friendly, “People drive down Main Street like they are on Hwy 29, we have to figure out a way to slow them down and keep people safe,” says Sabrina Andrus, co-owner of A+H General Store and Maker, two new businesses on Main Street. “We see way too many close calls between cars and pedestrians from the windows of our businesses.” Mike Riley, our Community Board Member Extraordinaire, is leading the conversation with The County of Lake to help find a solution.
