Show your support for Tahoe City and the TCDA by donating to our GoFundMe fundraiser.
The pandemic sent shockwaves throughout the world and our community. TCDA was revving up for another successful summer season filled with our favorite events. Once the news of the pandemic began our event work was immediately halted while TCDA’s staff and board shifted to 100% business support and resource sharing.
TCDA acted quickly and created a COVID-19 webpage at VisitTahoeCity.org with updates and resources from many local partners. By attending weekly stakeholder meetings, TCDA was able to be “in the know” to help our community stay informed, safe, and healthy. We worked hard to get out weekly communications to TCDA members about COVID-19 updates, business resources, and any other relevant information.
Back in March, TCDA fielded calls from concerned community members that were looking to provide support to others in need. TCDA connected donors with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation as they acted quickly to create the Emergency Response Fund that raised more than $500,000. Those funds were distributed to nonprofits that can provide essential services to community members like food, housing, and other social services.
TCDA wanted to help create hope in Tahoe City when it felt hopeless. With support from a local property owner Walt Kass and the Tahoe Emergency Fund from Tahoe Luxury Properties, the TCDA coordinated the creation of public art in downtown Tahoe City. We worked with local artist Sara Smith who painted a mural with a message of strength, togetherness, and beauty. We hope you were able to see the beautiful “Tahoe, We are Stronger Together” Mural while it was up this spring.
Free PPE for Businesses – TCDA, with Placer County and NLTRA, hosted three Free PPE days at the Old Firehouse in Tahoe City. More than 300 businesses received free masks, hand sanitizers, and signage to prepare for safe reopening. More Free PPE days are planned.
Placer Shares Grant Program – On April 27th, 2020, the TCDA sent a formal letter to the Placer Board of Supervisors to request a COVID-19 grant relief program for struggling businesses. We were happy to hear that Placer County was launching the Placer Shares Grant Program with $5,000 and $10,000 grants. TCDA worked hard to let as many businesses know about the opportunity.
Gift Card & Online Shopping Program – TCDA, in partnership with the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association(NLTRA) and North Tahoe Business Association (NTBA), launched the Gift Card & Online Shopping Program. This program allowed businesses closed due to COVID-19 to stay in touch with customers and have a platform to sell gift cards and products online. TCDA pushed this website to our membership and community to support their favorite local business.
Take Out Tahoe – TCDA supported restaurants while closed for dine-in by encouraging take out. TCDA created social media graphics and continuously shared business operation updates with our social followers. Additionally, we created a page on VisitTahoeCity.org with COVID-19 business operations for patrons to refer to. TCDA, in partnership with the NLTRA and NTBA, has released the #TakeOutTahoe Campaign in November and December that encourages take out from North Lake Tahoe restaurants.
Tahoe City Explorathon – This fall, TCDA launched the first-ever Tahoe City Explorathon. The Explorathon encouraged teams of 2-6 to experience the character, charm, history, and beauty of Tahoe City. The event was COVID-19 responsible and digitally based while encouraging participants to be active, engage with our local businesses, and the natural environment. The event launched on September 18th and concluded on October 18th. The game had 162 participants with an estimated spend of $7,500+ in Tahoe City. Participants provided feedback that the event “was something fun to do to support Tahoe businesses” and they “discovered many new businesses in Tahoe City they never visited before”. The TCDA used this same technology and partnered with the TCPUD to host the “Tahoe City Halloween Hunt” which had 46 teams play the game.
Concerts at Commons Beach- Backyard Boogie – While we were unable to meet in person this summer, we still wanted to bring rocking music & good cheer to our community. To keep you dancing, we are partnered with our local radio station 101.5 KTKE and a few of our favorite musical performers to share some of the best moments & sweetest sounds from our summer shows. Listeners were able to reminisce and relive memories from your favorite concerts from the comfort & safety of your home, boat, driveway, or backyard! TCDA live-streamed the Best of Concerts at Commons Beach concert series every Sunday in August.
Flower Basket Program – We hope you enjoyed the Flower Basket program this year. We think it was our best year yet! The baskets were large, healthy, and bright all summer long and into fall. Huge shout out to the Tahoe Tree Company for donating the flowers and other flower-loving supporters; Melanie Jackson/TTCF Fund, Tahoe City Marina, Olympic Bike Shop, Swigards Hardware, and, of course, our AMAZING watering staff Ray and Gerardo.
Scarecrow Contest & Cornstalk Decoration – We didn’t let this year stop fall traditions. Thank you to TCDA Board Member and Business Member Gail Scoville and Carol Hester for making sure Tahoe City looked festive this fall. This year we had 16 scarecrows around town created by local businesses and community members.
Downtown Lighting – Finally, the TCDA has been working diligently to make sure this year’s Downtown Lighting Program is bigger and better than ever before. This year in addition to town-wide lighting we will be lighting one 110-foot pine tree with nearly 8,000 feet of light! This tree is an ode to the historic “Tahoe City Big Tree” that grew tall in the middle of Highway 28 in Tahoe City. The tree will be lit on Small Business Saturday, November 28th, as a reminder to shop local and support Tahoe City businesses. The Downtown Lighting program was created to draw visitors to Tahoe City in the winter months when the days are short, and the snow is coming down. Our goal is to create an inviting and warm feeling in downtown to remind our visitors that Tahoe City is vibrant all year long. The lights also help locals and guests have a cozy and safe wintertime experience strolling through downtown Tahoe City. The shimmering and sparkling trees are like a big warm hug as you walk through town.
Please help support TCDA. Your donation will help to keep these programs active. Many of our programs and events are free to attend, but not free to produce. We need your help, and we THANK YOU for your support – you make a difference!