Background:
The city of Napa has been devastated by floods over the past 100 years, but previous flood control projects have met with resistance from the community. A Community Coalition was formed to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and rework every element of the project to meet local needs.

Situation:
With a completely redesigned project, and a last chance at federal funding, the Napa County Flood Control District asked BALZAC to help them develop educational materials and work with the local media to generate support for this important issue.

Action:
Working with public affairs specialists in Los Angeles and San Francisco, BALZAC developed communications messages and worked with the local media to generate positive coverage of the project. Letters to the editor, private conversations with key media, and a host of managed interviews got the message out.

Results:
The project is now slated for a ballot initiative by the County Board of Supervisors, prompted by actions of the Community Coalition. The local media coverage continues to support the project and provide encouraging coverage of its progress through the many levels of government.

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