News from County Executive Giambra

Senior Services Unveils New Van & Opportunity for Partnership

Department of Senior Services Commissioner Pamela Krawczyk and County Executive Joel Giambra pulled a tarp off a newly designed Going Places transportation van, and unveiled a new revenue-generating opportunity to sustain and possibly expand the Senior Services' Going Places Transportation System.

Commissioner Pam Krawczyk explains, "Throughout the community, Going Places has 30 vans that travel 5 days a week, transporting seniors to various appointments, and each van averages 100 miles per day. For any marketing partner, that's a lot of exposure to people of all ages, all walks of life - not just the seniors riding the vans, the advertising message will be seen by every other driver and every pedestrian that the van passes."

VinylSignz in the first (of hopefully many) private company to partner with Senior Services in sponsorship of a van: VinylSignz will place an advertising image on the van, and in return receives exposure to all the consumers that the Going Places van passes. "It's definitely a win-win situation, and it's a very good buy" says VinylSignz President, Trace George. He goes on to list some of the advantages of mobile advertising on the vans: The vinyl that wraps the van can include full-color photographic images; the wrap is more resistant to dirt and salt than a regular paint job; and can even be changed if needed. The message remains intact and in perfect condition - not having graffiti scrawled on it as signs and billboards do, nor lettering being re-arranged or stolen. The size of the van is a plus - larger than a car, with a higher profile on the road, and so increased visibility. The advertising message is on the front, the sides, and the rear so it's seen from all angles. But, he points out, the van's mobility is a key attraction for advertisers... while most outdoor media is stationed in one place, Senior Services vans are seen all over the county, and people are much more likely to notice than they are to notice a billboard.

"My Administration is leaving no stone unturned, we are committed to finding new sources of revenue for county government," said Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra. "The burden placed on county taxpayers by Medicaid is outpacing our ability to pay. That's why, I've asked my department heads to find alternative ways to reduce spending and increase revenue."

Jim Panczykowski, Director of Transportation adds, "In an increasingly mobile society, the advertising message will be where the consumer is. It's not like somebody doesn't subscribe to a certain paper or magazine, or doesn't watch a particular program on a certain night and so misses your paid ad - there they are driving down the road, or maybe waiting for a bus or train, or perhaps trying to cross the street… and they see our Senior Services van, and they see the ad. It's always moving so it's going to be seen by a great many people. Even if the van is parked outside a doctor's office while waiting for a passenger to board, the partner's message can still be seen by anyone in the building, by anyone heading to or from their car in the parking lot, by anyone passing along the street. More and more people now spend time on the road going from one place to another for business and pleasure, so it makes perfect sense to utilize the Department's vans. Sponsorship of our van costs far less than advertising on billboards, radio or television, and they're noticed. Our partners will get maximum impact for minimum cost." For more information about the sponsorship program, please contact Jim Panczykowski at 858-8084.