Gumaro Escarcega, Chief Executive Officer at MainStreet Oceanside, welcomed and thanked everyone for braving the rainy weather to attend the first Monthly Morning Meeting of 2024. He also thanked coffee sponsor Pier View Coffee and Tom DeMooy for providing donuts for this month’s meeting.
Tom DeMooy shared a few things about his work and volunteerism. Tom is a 25-year resident of Oceanside and is an ERA Ranch and Sea Realty Realtor in Downtown Oceanside. Tom participates on the MSO Board, Design Committee, and Independence Parade Committee. His other community involvement includes the Downtown Advisory Committee, Neighborhood Watch, and Oceanside NO Graffiti Program. He provided the audience with a flyer about Neighborhood Watch coordinating opportunities in Oceanside.
Oceanside Arts Commission member, Brigid Parsons presented the Oceanside-specific findings from the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) report. The AEP6 is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. In San Diego County, seven cities and two cultural districts (including the City of Oceanside and the Oceanside Cultural District) participated in the study, covering 60% of the county population. Only data from non-profit organizations was collected. Brigid said there are 90 non-profit arts and culture venues and organizations in Oceanside. The Arts Commission, the Oceanside Library, and other volunteers attended over 30 non-profit arts and culture events and collected over 800 surveys.
Using data from surveys collected from non-profit arts and culture organizations only in Oceanside, $57.7 million was spent citywide, and $45.6 million was spent inside the Oceanside Cultural District. Through this economic activity, 965 arts and culture-related jobs were supported. To clarify, economic activity is not just money spent at an event but is also money spent at a restaurant, with childcare, or for souvenirs, parking, transit, or lodging. Economic impact includes all the businesses that are participating in the economic activity beyond the arts and culture organization.
Much of the economic impact for Oceanside is in the Oceanside Cultural District because the concentration of arts and culture organizations is within the cultural district boundaries.
Another interesting piece of information is that visitors contribute 15% of the economic impact in Oceanside, creating an opportunity to ramp up marketing to visitors to attend events in Oceanside.
To give some statistics and perspective beyond Oceanside, nationally the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry supporting 2.6 million jobs and generating $29.1 billion in government revenue. In San Diego County, the $1.3 billion arts and culture industry supports almost 20,000 jobs and generates $320.7 million in local, state, and federal government revenue.
Looking at the ROI, Oceanside is doing well getting value for invested money. For every $1 spent by an arts and culture organization, an additional $1.55 was spent by audiences in the Oceanside Cultural District or $1.37 for the entire city.
Other interesting findings included BIPOC/ALAANA attendees at arts and culture events constituted nearly 49% of audiences, contrasting with the just-under 39% resident statistic.
The results of the AEP6 study are impressive and demonstrate that arts and culture bring not only quality of life and wellness but also economic value to the community.
Brigid said 250 events happened in Oceanside last year. The Arts Commission promotes events throughout the city and places advertisements in the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and The Osider magazines. The Arts Commission and the Oceanside Cultural District are also working on providing an online calendar to help promote events happening throughout the city. Visit Oceanside is also very engaged in the events happening in the city. Brigid maintains a calendar on the Oceanside Art Walk website at oceansidearts.org listing arts and culture events in Oceanside.
Sue Otto of Coast News mentioned the publication has a community calendar that is free and capable of reaching 250,000 in North County through their website. She said to send big event information to the community editor at samantha@coastnewsgroup.com.
Gumaro and Mary Ann Thiem updated the audience on an upcoming mural project at the transit center parking garage located at 301 Seagaze Drive. The Oceanside City Manager and the Cultural District asked MSO to develop a mural at the site. As one of the gateways to the Downtown District, the area is important and needs a unique placemaking project.
Through the Art that Excites program, the MSO Design Committee issued an RFP to the public in the fall of 2023 and received 22 submissions. The Design Committee chose the top five proposals to move forward in the selection process. The project is supported with funds by the Oceanside Cultural District and the Oceanside Arts Commission (each contributing $6,000). The next steps will be to find more funding and narrow the selections to three. The three will be presented to City Council and the Arts Commission before moving on to a community-wide voting process for the final mural. This will be the fifth mural in the Art that Excites program. A sixth mural project is in the beginning stages at the NCTD pedestrian tunnel, which will be a unique, very extensive, and community-driven project. More details for both projects, once determined, will be available on the Art that Excites website.
Jane Marshall invited the audience to the next OCNA meeting on February 27 at 6 p.m. where City of Oceanside Economic Development Manager, Michelle Geller will present an update on all the new businesses coming to Oceanside over the coming year.
Alex Goodman, Managing Director at Oceanside Theatre Company, provided the audience with the 2024 OTC Season brochure, as well as a postcard for the next two weeks’ programming. The Conrad Prebys Foundation grant is funding cultural programming, including “Generational Black Pioneers” showing the weekend of February 17-18 which celebrates Oceanside Firsts from the first black teachers to the mayor. The first main stage production, the super fun and super funny “Chicken & Biscuits,” will premiere March 8.
Linda Pina of Carla & Linda’s Local Tours reported they are celebrating their 8th year in Oceanside! There are over 30 restaurants that support the small business now. In celebration, Carla & Linda’s will be having several giveaways during February. Book a tour at shoesandchews.com!
Haley Riggi, Sales & Event Coordinator for MSO, reported Taste of Spring will be on Saturday, April 20, from 2-5 p.m. Formerly Mother’s Day Is Sweet, the family-friendly event will now include savory taste options. MSO is in the process of recruiting downtown businesses to participate as a sweet taste stop, a savory taste stop, or a sip stop. Beverage providers are also needed. Ticket sales will launch on March 1: $30 adult food only, $45 adult food and beverage combo, $15 child, and $100 family of four (two adults, two children). There will also be volunteer opportunities. More details to come!
Coffee provided by Pier View Coffee
Donuts provided by Tom DeMooy, ERA Ranch and Sea Realty Realtor
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
We welcome all parties interested in the progress of Downtown Oceanside, including businesspeople, residents, and City staff.
This informative one-hour meeting is held in an informal discussion format. The general public is always welcome! Come meet your city officials, MainStreet Oceanside staff and members and find out about upcoming events and changes to YOUR downtown and city.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held at the MainStreet Oceanside meeting room at 701 Mission Avenue. Call our office for more information or directions at (760) 754-4512.
