Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Florida Journeys Communications was awarded a three-year Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations Consulting Services contract by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program after winning a competitive RFP bid.
The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is dedicated to restoring the area’s greatest and most important natural asset—Sarasota Bay. Its unique program strives to improve water quality, increases habitat and enhance the natural resources of the area for use and enjoyment by the public. Sarasota Bay is one of 28 estuaries in the United States that have been named by the U.S. Congress as an “estuary of national significance.”
Incoming Challenge
Communicating the social, ecological and economic value of Sarasota Bay Estuary Program’s mission and accomplishments to diverse target audiences with a limited budget and staff resources.
Specifically, SBEP wanted to:
- Raise public awareness of the need for Bay protection and stewardship
- Engage and educate the local citizenry about the connection between the many things they do daily that directly influence the health of Sarasota Bay
- Encourage and promote change in behavior and public policy
- Publicize the significant gains achieved by the program
Solution
The development and execution of an integrated strategic communications and content branding plan with the following main elements:
Message Platform
- Sarasota Bay is the primary economic engine of the region.
- Sarasota Bay defines our region’s “sense of place.”
- Healthy ecosystems make economic contributions that transcend conventional accounting.
Core Messaging content continuity across all media:
Since 1989 the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and its partners have had a vision – a vision of a Sarasota Bay with clear waters and abundant habitat supporting a rich diversity of aquatic life – of people experiencing that abundance while soaking in its natural beauty, and a commitment through education to engage the community to become our partner in cultivating this vision of a healthy Sarasota Bay.”
ABOUT SARASOTA BAY
The health of Sarasota Bay has seen significant gains since it was named an estuary of national significance by the US Congress in 1989.
HABITAT RESTORATION
SBEP has engaged in more than thirty habitat restoration projects.
THE WATER CONNECTION
You are the solution to stormwater pollution.
NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION RESOURCES
Protecting the Health of Sarasota Bay Begins in Your Yard.
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Engage, educate and encourage citizen action.
ECOTOURISM
The Gulf Coast Heritage Trail connects those special places that weave together the fabric of our history.
RESEARCH
Quantifies the environmental health of the Sarasota Bay system.
GET INVOLVED
Citizen participation in restoring and protecting Sarasota Bay and its tributaries is critical.
Interactive Website
Brochure
New Communications Vehicles
- Video – Sarasota Bay: Celebrating Our Water Heritage (producer/director/writer)
- Interactive website – https://floridajourneys.com/sbep/
- Brochure
- eNewsletter – Total redesign including masthead, layout and content augmentation – writer/editor
- Sarasota Bay Guardians Logo
- Social Media – Facebook and Twitter
- State of the Bay 2010 (edited full report and wrote Communications/Outreach Section)
Testimonial
“The SBEP has developed a very successful outreach and public involvement program. The Program provides a wealth of current scientific information and educational materials through its website https://floridajourneys.com/sbep/index.html, newsletters, and, videos. In 2008 the SBEP released a documentary highlighting Program and partner accomplishments over the past decade. The video has been extensively shown regionally and on local TV stations.”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
SBEP Program Evaluation 10/31/09
Strengths – Outreach & Public Involvement
