Jared Janes
The Monitor
WESLACO — The Rio Grande Valley never made it past the short list.
An incentive package the region’s leaders quietly put together to lure in an aerospace manufacturer was still in consideration at the end, said Steve Ahlenius, president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. But the company looking to expand its operations instead turned to options in other states.
The “Project Thrust” effort was the first collaborative approach to economic development by the Rio South Texas Economic Council, a 19-member alliance formed earlier this year to promote the region.
The group’s first shot at economic development ended unsuccessfully, but Ahlenius said it showed them that working together at least puts them on the lists.
“It never would have happened” without the council, Ahlenius said. “There’s a lot of companies that are going to start coming because of this.”
Council members signed a resolution Thursday that Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said is a step toward “collaborating to compete.”
He unveiled the group’s Web site — www.riosouthtexas.com — and presented its logo and slogan, “2 Countries, 1 Region, Many Choices.”
The collaboration resolution states the partners will work together to make the region competitive, promote its benefits and help each other to land projects.
Salinas, the chairman of the council and catalyst behind the effort, said the resolution pulls together a region that is among the nation’s 25 most populous if neighboring communities in Mexico are included.
It also gives the region the financial power to spread its message.
The council’s marketing budget through its member dues is $300,000, a number that could grow as it recruits businesses and other groups into its ranks.
An economic development team was hired this summer to develop a marketing strategy for the council.
Some items — the Web site, logo and slogan — were unveiled Thursday, but officials were tight-lipped on other elements of a 100-page marketing plan.
Splash events are in the works for Houston and New York to promote the region using a gamut of mail-outs, publications and studies.
The Web site will provide regional statistics on the workforce, incentives and educational assets, and it will soon include a database of available properties.
The effort gives smaller cities like San Juan access to marketing tools like the property database that it wouldn’t have with its own limited budget, said Miki McCarthy, executive director of the San Juan Economic Development Corp.
San Juan and other small cities usually can’t compete for companies seeking assets like a 200,000-square-foot building, she said. But the regional effort gives the city a chance to promote its small assets like a 50-acre plot of land that may be overlooked.
McCarthy said larger cities like McAllen can’t draw in big prospects without the support of smaller cities, which can benefit from having better job opportunities for their own residents.
“We’re dots on the map but we’re all feeding into the same population pool,” she said. “We can’t do it alone.”
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Takes Innovative Marketing Approach
Fort Wayne, Ind. (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 18, 2009
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEIRP) has firmly grounded itself on the cutting edge of economic development with the announcement of northeast Indiana's premier economic development social marketing campaign. NEIRP updates and information can now be found on the Northeast Indiana Pulse Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and photo-sharing network Flickr.
In recent months, the aggressive efforts of the Partnership to market the region and attract new investment opportunities have been enhanced and supplemented by the addition of social marketing campaigns. Facebook members can become fans of northeast Indiana, Tweeters can follow northeast Indiana's breaking news if they follow @NortheastIN, photos from all of northeast Indiana's 10 counties can be accessed on Flickr, and area economic development event updates are posted on NEIRP’s LinkedIn group page. The blog, Northeast Indiana Pulse, also provides a medium for reflection and commentary on northeast Indiana and economic development activity by NEIRP staff and regional partners.
"We saw a need to connect with our clients—site selection consultant and company executives—on another level," said Erica McCutchan, Marketing Manager for NEIRP. "Social media networks like LinkedIn and Twitter allow NEIRP to broaden the reach of our brand and further establish relationships. In the economic development world, these avenues of communication are fresh and innovative which allows the northeast Indiana brand to stand out from other regions."
In today's reality of online accessibility and the social networking frenzy, reports have shown online communities are increasingly drawing executive attention, increasing the demand for northeast Indiana's brand to be visible and accessible online. With full integration of social media into NEIRP's online website and presence, the Regional Partnership's response to this demand has proven to be one of the first of its kind in the state and nation. Only a handful of other economic development organizations throughout the country have been found taking advantage of the medium.
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEIRP) has firmly grounded itself on the cutting edge of economic development with the announcement of northeast Indiana's premier economic development social marketing campaign. NEIRP updates and information can now be found on the Northeast Indiana Pulse Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and photo-sharing network Flickr.
In recent months, the aggressive efforts of the Partnership to market the region and attract new investment opportunities have been enhanced and supplemented by the addition of social marketing campaigns. Facebook members can become fans of northeast Indiana, Tweeters can follow northeast Indiana's breaking news if they follow @NortheastIN, photos from all of northeast Indiana's 10 counties can be accessed on Flickr, and area economic development event updates are posted on NEIRP’s LinkedIn group page. The blog, Northeast Indiana Pulse, also provides a medium for reflection and commentary on northeast Indiana and economic development activity by NEIRP staff and regional partners.
"We saw a need to connect with our clients—site selection consultant and company executives—on another level," said Erica McCutchan, Marketing Manager for NEIRP. "Social media networks like LinkedIn and Twitter allow NEIRP to broaden the reach of our brand and further establish relationships. In the economic development world, these avenues of communication are fresh and innovative which allows the northeast Indiana brand to stand out from other regions."
In today's reality of online accessibility and the social networking frenzy, reports have shown online communities are increasingly drawing executive attention, increasing the demand for northeast Indiana's brand to be visible and accessible online. With full integration of social media into NEIRP's online website and presence, the Regional Partnership's response to this demand has proven to be one of the first of its kind in the state and nation. Only a handful of other economic development organizations throughout the country have been found taking advantage of the medium.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
IBM and Dubuque, Iowa Partner on Smarter City Initiative
DUBUQUE, Iowa, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the City of Dubuque, Iowa today announced a new collaboration aimed at making this community of 60,000 one of the first "smarter" sustainable cities in the U.S.
IBM and Dubuque outlined their plans to partner in the development of new "smarter" technologies and implementation strategies to create an international model of sustainability for communities of 200,000 and under, where over 40 percent of the U.S. population resides. Dubuque, a city that is recognized as a national leader in sustainability with its forward-thinking public policy, together with IBM, will address the ever-increasing demands of cities to deliver vital services such as energy and water management, and transportation, all while reducing the community's impact on the environment.
"The goal of this collaboration is to develop and pilot a systematic mechanism to give consumers and businesses the information they need to make informed decisions about how they consume resources like electricity, water, natural gas, and oil," said Robert Morris, vice president, IBM Research. "To create such a mechanism, a partnership is needed between a community with a track record of successful public-private partnerships, citizens and businesses that believe in sustainability, and enterprises like IBM that have the information technology and knowledge to apply to this transformative partnership." More.
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the City of Dubuque, Iowa today announced a new collaboration aimed at making this community of 60,000 one of the first "smarter" sustainable cities in the U.S.
IBM and Dubuque outlined their plans to partner in the development of new "smarter" technologies and implementation strategies to create an international model of sustainability for communities of 200,000 and under, where over 40 percent of the U.S. population resides. Dubuque, a city that is recognized as a national leader in sustainability with its forward-thinking public policy, together with IBM, will address the ever-increasing demands of cities to deliver vital services such as energy and water management, and transportation, all while reducing the community's impact on the environment.
"The goal of this collaboration is to develop and pilot a systematic mechanism to give consumers and businesses the information they need to make informed decisions about how they consume resources like electricity, water, natural gas, and oil," said Robert Morris, vice president, IBM Research. "To create such a mechanism, a partnership is needed between a community with a track record of successful public-private partnerships, citizens and businesses that believe in sustainability, and enterprises like IBM that have the information technology and knowledge to apply to this transformative partnership." More.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Response to Blane Canada's Fear Based Sales Recommendation
According to Eric Canada of Blane, Canada, "selling economic development to prospective investors is just like selling insurance. Create fear or uncertainty, then offer hope. Looking for a development manager to increase investment? Look for insurance sales experience" (ED Marketing Letter, September, 2009).
With respect to my friend Eric, I can't imagine anyone using this approach to attract investors. The fear sales pitch is made to give us a sense of urgency, when there really is none. But who is not turned off by that type of approach?
A better alternative to selling urgency through fear is to promote trust. This requires accountability and transparency - two characteristics not needed in a fear based selling approach.
But developing trust requires that you actually deliver value. As you do, people will want to work with you, not out of fear, but because they trust you, because you offer top-of-the-line services, because you solve a problem for them and because you are dependable. They not only will invest in your organization but become your greatest ambassadors as well.
When you deliver on your promises, your investors will feel good about the process and the trust you earn will translate into a larger and more loyal investor base.
With respect to my friend Eric, I can't imagine anyone using this approach to attract investors. The fear sales pitch is made to give us a sense of urgency, when there really is none. But who is not turned off by that type of approach?
A better alternative to selling urgency through fear is to promote trust. This requires accountability and transparency - two characteristics not needed in a fear based selling approach.
But developing trust requires that you actually deliver value. As you do, people will want to work with you, not out of fear, but because they trust you, because you offer top-of-the-line services, because you solve a problem for them and because you are dependable. They not only will invest in your organization but become your greatest ambassadors as well.
When you deliver on your promises, your investors will feel good about the process and the trust you earn will translate into a larger and more loyal investor base.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Ad campaign aims to shine light on Southwest Florida
NAPLES — A new branding campaign is shining a light on Southwest Florida.
A Web site — ABrighterPlace.com — launched on Oct. 1. Signage is up at Southwest Florida International Airport and there’s more marketing to come for the new regional brand.
The brand is designed to bring new business to the region. It is built around a simple positioning statement: Southwest Florida — A brighter place to do business.
Joe Bouch, president of Chisano Marketing Group, which was hired to develop the new brand for the six-county region that includes Lee, Collier and Charlotte, gave an update about marketing efforts at an investor meeting the Economic Development Council of Collier County hosted Tuesday.
The meeting was held in the community room at the new Naples News Media Group headquarters off Immokalee Road. About 60 business and community leaders attended.
“This has been an exciting time for Southwest Florida. It really has,” Bouch said.
He said getting economic development leaders from six counties to cooperate and agree on a brand wasn’t easy. Ideas for a positioning statement covered the walls as the players worked to hash it out, Bouch said.
“We beat on it and beat on it and beat on it,” he said.
The word brighter refers to the quality of life and the region’s intellectual capital, including an impressive group of former CEOs and successful business owners who have retired here. The word place suggests a sense of belonging.
The words “do business” are key because growing businesses is what the campaign is all about, Bouch said. “It’s our call to action,” he said.
In the slogan, the words Southwest Florida are written in two colors — blue and green — to represent both the coastal and rural communities in the region. Blue is for water and green is for less developed, more protected areas. The logo is a sun that pulsates and comes to life on the new Web site.
At the airport, 11 signs bring home the message of the brand with statements such as, “A lot of businesses are landing here too,” and “Your business could be taking off here too.”
Soon, there will be what Bouch describes as “guerilla” signs in the windows of retail shops, restaurants and golf shops across town. “We’re going to put them everywhere,” he said.
The window signs will carry messages like, “You could be on your lunch-hour, not your vacation,” or “While you’re at it shop around for a business here too.”
Brochures will be handed out. Print and online advertising is planned in the region and elsewhere in Florida to help drive more people to the Web site.
A newsletter will be published regularly and press kits will soon be sent out to writers and editors to generate publicity about the brand.
The big marketing push will begin in January, Bouch said.
Over the next two years, the six counties have agreed to spend more than $500,000 on the campaign in hopes of bringing more high-wage jobs to the region. That’s on top of the cost of developing the brand, which came in at about $30,000.
“I think the fun part for us is the guerilla marketing, which is new for our organization,” said Tammie Nemecek, president and CEO of Collier County’s Economic Development Council. “It plays well into our tourism marketing.”
Collier County will get 600 window signs. The other counties will get the same number.
Most of the marketing will be done in the state because the budget is limited. The goal is to reach tourists and other visitors, who might consider moving their business to Southwest Florida after coming here for a vacation, a business trip or to see family or friends.
The hope is to raise more money to extend marketing outside of the state. County governments are helping to pay for the campaign, with support from the business community including Fifth-Third Bank.
Jan Kantor, president and owner of Success Systems, a Naples-based business consultant and a Naples Daily News columnist, liked what he saw at the meeting.
“It’s terrific,” he said of the brand campaign. He said it’s refreshing to see a united economic development effort in the region because “we need each other’s help.”
For the campaign to be successful, local businesses will have to get involved, passing out brochures, putting signs in their windows and offering testimonials about their business success in Southwest Florida on the new Web site, Bouch said.
“This will not work without the collaboration of the businesses that are here,” he said.
A Web site — ABrighterPlace.com — launched on Oct. 1. Signage is up at Southwest Florida International Airport and there’s more marketing to come for the new regional brand.
The brand is designed to bring new business to the region. It is built around a simple positioning statement: Southwest Florida — A brighter place to do business.
Joe Bouch, president of Chisano Marketing Group, which was hired to develop the new brand for the six-county region that includes Lee, Collier and Charlotte, gave an update about marketing efforts at an investor meeting the Economic Development Council of Collier County hosted Tuesday.
The meeting was held in the community room at the new Naples News Media Group headquarters off Immokalee Road. About 60 business and community leaders attended.
“This has been an exciting time for Southwest Florida. It really has,” Bouch said.
He said getting economic development leaders from six counties to cooperate and agree on a brand wasn’t easy. Ideas for a positioning statement covered the walls as the players worked to hash it out, Bouch said.
“We beat on it and beat on it and beat on it,” he said.
The word brighter refers to the quality of life and the region’s intellectual capital, including an impressive group of former CEOs and successful business owners who have retired here. The word place suggests a sense of belonging.
The words “do business” are key because growing businesses is what the campaign is all about, Bouch said. “It’s our call to action,” he said.
In the slogan, the words Southwest Florida are written in two colors — blue and green — to represent both the coastal and rural communities in the region. Blue is for water and green is for less developed, more protected areas. The logo is a sun that pulsates and comes to life on the new Web site.
At the airport, 11 signs bring home the message of the brand with statements such as, “A lot of businesses are landing here too,” and “Your business could be taking off here too.”
Soon, there will be what Bouch describes as “guerilla” signs in the windows of retail shops, restaurants and golf shops across town. “We’re going to put them everywhere,” he said.
The window signs will carry messages like, “You could be on your lunch-hour, not your vacation,” or “While you’re at it shop around for a business here too.”
Brochures will be handed out. Print and online advertising is planned in the region and elsewhere in Florida to help drive more people to the Web site.
A newsletter will be published regularly and press kits will soon be sent out to writers and editors to generate publicity about the brand.
The big marketing push will begin in January, Bouch said.
Over the next two years, the six counties have agreed to spend more than $500,000 on the campaign in hopes of bringing more high-wage jobs to the region. That’s on top of the cost of developing the brand, which came in at about $30,000.
“I think the fun part for us is the guerilla marketing, which is new for our organization,” said Tammie Nemecek, president and CEO of Collier County’s Economic Development Council. “It plays well into our tourism marketing.”
Collier County will get 600 window signs. The other counties will get the same number.
Most of the marketing will be done in the state because the budget is limited. The goal is to reach tourists and other visitors, who might consider moving their business to Southwest Florida after coming here for a vacation, a business trip or to see family or friends.
The hope is to raise more money to extend marketing outside of the state. County governments are helping to pay for the campaign, with support from the business community including Fifth-Third Bank.
Jan Kantor, president and owner of Success Systems, a Naples-based business consultant and a Naples Daily News columnist, liked what he saw at the meeting.
“It’s terrific,” he said of the brand campaign. He said it’s refreshing to see a united economic development effort in the region because “we need each other’s help.”
For the campaign to be successful, local businesses will have to get involved, passing out brochures, putting signs in their windows and offering testimonials about their business success in Southwest Florida on the new Web site, Bouch said.
“This will not work without the collaboration of the businesses that are here,” he said.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Selling Solar: Saginaw Bay area groups making trip to Germany
By Jeff Kart
September 20, 2009, 2:30AM
There's a lot riding on a breakfast meeting in Hamburg, Germany this week for the Saginaw Valley's emerging solar-energy industry.
With the backing of the region's two solar heavy hitters -- Dow Corning Corp. in Bay County and Hemlock Semiconductor Group in Saginaw County -- area economic development leaders will press other solar companies to bring manufacturing and jobs to Michigan.
"We hope to make companies that are at the conference more aware of the Great Lakes Bay Region as a place for solar energy development," said Fred Hollister, president of Bay Future Inc. in Bay City.
"We're hoping to make contacts with decision makers in companies that will be expanding in the near future."
Hollister leaves today for Germany along with JoAnn T. Crary, president of the economic development group Saginaw Future Inc., and Scott Walker, CEO of Midland Tomorrow. They'll be participating in one of the world's largest solar-energy events, as part of an ongoing regional recruitment attraction program called Michigan Solar Advantage.
The 24th annual European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition is hosting 800 exhibitors and expects 40,000 visitors during its week-long run.
The three business-development leaders will carry the banner of the Great Lakes Bay Economic Development Partnership at the event.
Crary said the key moment will be a breakfast meeting the partnership is hosting on Thursday, where they are targeting specific solar companies that might benefit from locating in the Great Lakes Bay Region. About 80 people are expected to attend.
The companies will hear from Hemlock Semiconductor Vice President of Sales and Marketing Gary Homan and Dow Corning Director of Solar Solutions Eric Peeters, who are attending the trade show, Crary said. Each will talk about their company's solar operations in Michigan.
Hemlock Semiconductor, located in Thomas Township, makes polycrystalline silicon, the basis of solar wafers. Dow Corning announced last week it would spend several hundred million dollars to construct a plant next to Hemlock to make monosilane gas, which is used in thin-film solar panels, the other major technology.
Dow Corning is the majority owner of Hemlock Semiconductor.
The breakfast meeting will be co-sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Hollister said he doesn't know how many groups from other states will be making similar presentations at the conference.
His group's hook is that the Great Lakes Bay Region is already home to companies on the cutting-edge of solar development -- Dow Corning, Hemlock Semiconductor and Dow Chemical.
"I'm not expecting anybody to sign a contract for anything on that particular morning," Hollister said. "The more that they know about our region and what's available here, the more interested I think they'll be."
Hollister said the region's emerging solar industry should be attractive to other companies looking to locate near the source of development.
Monosilane gas, for instance, is expensive to transport, and so are other materials for solar manufacturing, like glass.
The area also has existing infrastructure for shipping, including highways, rail and ports, along with automotive suppliers that could adapt to supply the solar market.
Peeters said Dow Corning also will use the convention to promote a new solar encapsulation technology the corporation has developed to make solar panels more durable and with less production time. Peeters said the technology is very promising.
"It brings us that much closer to making solar a sustainable energy option throughout the globe," he said.
Hollister said he thinks it's also important to mention that innovations like encapsulation are being developed right here in the region.
"We're really excited," he said. "This is probably the biggest event we've done with the partnership."
Crary said Hemlock and the new Dow Corning plant allow the Economic Development Partnership to go after two major types of solar-panel production. Dow Corning's announcement of the start of construction of the new factory is perfect timing heading into the solar trade show in Germany, she said.
September 20, 2009, 2:30AM
There's a lot riding on a breakfast meeting in Hamburg, Germany this week for the Saginaw Valley's emerging solar-energy industry.
With the backing of the region's two solar heavy hitters -- Dow Corning Corp. in Bay County and Hemlock Semiconductor Group in Saginaw County -- area economic development leaders will press other solar companies to bring manufacturing and jobs to Michigan.
"We hope to make companies that are at the conference more aware of the Great Lakes Bay Region as a place for solar energy development," said Fred Hollister, president of Bay Future Inc. in Bay City.
"We're hoping to make contacts with decision makers in companies that will be expanding in the near future."
Hollister leaves today for Germany along with JoAnn T. Crary, president of the economic development group Saginaw Future Inc., and Scott Walker, CEO of Midland Tomorrow. They'll be participating in one of the world's largest solar-energy events, as part of an ongoing regional recruitment attraction program called Michigan Solar Advantage.
The 24th annual European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition is hosting 800 exhibitors and expects 40,000 visitors during its week-long run.
The three business-development leaders will carry the banner of the Great Lakes Bay Economic Development Partnership at the event.
Crary said the key moment will be a breakfast meeting the partnership is hosting on Thursday, where they are targeting specific solar companies that might benefit from locating in the Great Lakes Bay Region. About 80 people are expected to attend.
The companies will hear from Hemlock Semiconductor Vice President of Sales and Marketing Gary Homan and Dow Corning Director of Solar Solutions Eric Peeters, who are attending the trade show, Crary said. Each will talk about their company's solar operations in Michigan.
Hemlock Semiconductor, located in Thomas Township, makes polycrystalline silicon, the basis of solar wafers. Dow Corning announced last week it would spend several hundred million dollars to construct a plant next to Hemlock to make monosilane gas, which is used in thin-film solar panels, the other major technology.
Dow Corning is the majority owner of Hemlock Semiconductor.
The breakfast meeting will be co-sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Hollister said he doesn't know how many groups from other states will be making similar presentations at the conference.
His group's hook is that the Great Lakes Bay Region is already home to companies on the cutting-edge of solar development -- Dow Corning, Hemlock Semiconductor and Dow Chemical.
"I'm not expecting anybody to sign a contract for anything on that particular morning," Hollister said. "The more that they know about our region and what's available here, the more interested I think they'll be."
Hollister said the region's emerging solar industry should be attractive to other companies looking to locate near the source of development.
Monosilane gas, for instance, is expensive to transport, and so are other materials for solar manufacturing, like glass.
The area also has existing infrastructure for shipping, including highways, rail and ports, along with automotive suppliers that could adapt to supply the solar market.
Peeters said Dow Corning also will use the convention to promote a new solar encapsulation technology the corporation has developed to make solar panels more durable and with less production time. Peeters said the technology is very promising.
"It brings us that much closer to making solar a sustainable energy option throughout the globe," he said.
Hollister said he thinks it's also important to mention that innovations like encapsulation are being developed right here in the region.
"We're really excited," he said. "This is probably the biggest event we've done with the partnership."
Crary said Hemlock and the new Dow Corning plant allow the Economic Development Partnership to go after two major types of solar-panel production. Dow Corning's announcement of the start of construction of the new factory is perfect timing heading into the solar trade show in Germany, she said.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Mayor outlines ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ economic strategy for Vancouver
VANCOUVER—At an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade today, Mayor Gregor Robertson announced a number of economic development initiatives, including the introduction of ‘Vancouver Green Capital,’ a new economic branding strategy for the City.
“The Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we need to do everything we can to help our local economy capitalize on it,” said Mayor Robertson. “That means being aggressive in terms of how we market ourselves to the world. The ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ branding strategy allows us to define Vancouver on our terms.”
Mayor Robertson also announced several other strategic initiatives aimed at fostering business development and investment in the City. These include:
■ The Vancouver Economic Development Commission’s Economic Development Strategy for Vancouver, which will be released in November – the first economic development strategy for Vancouver in two decades.
■ Metro Vancouver Commerce, an unprecedented collaboration with local municipalities to target new businesses and market the region as a whole. Metro Vancouver Commerce will be the most aggressive business development program in Metro Vancouver’s history and will be rolled out in October.
■ Vancouver House, which will showcase ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ to the world during the 2010 Games. Vancouver House will provide a launching pad for local businesses, entrepreneurs and industries to gain access to a global audience during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
■ The development of a Low carbon economic development zone. Designed to spur economic activity and create jobs, these zones include financing mechanisms, government incentives and technology exchanges. Mayor Robertson has been in talks with US cities in the Pacific Northwest to collaborate on low carbon economic zones, and intends to enter into an agreement with the State of California this year.
“We’ve got cutting-edge businesses, we have the opportunity to lead the world in green technology research and development, and we have a dynamic, highly educated and creative workforce,” said Mayor Robertson. “With the new strategies and programs the City and the VEDC are rolling out, and in particular our business brand of ‘Vancouver Green Capital,’ we’re saying we’re open for business and the days of Vancouver being seen as a sleepy, laid-back West Coast town are in the past.”
The ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ global branding strategy has been developed over the last several months by the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. It creates a positive, clear and consistent image of Vancouver to market the City around the world – particularly during the 2010 Games. Up until now, the city has had no such strategy.
“Vancouver Green Capital is the business global branding strategy Vancouver needs going into the 2010 Games and beyond,” said Vancouver Economic Development Commission CEO Phil Heard. “I’m very pleased that the VEDC has been able to work closely with the City to develop a clear plan to put Vancouver’s businesses in front of customers the world over.”
More information on the city’s economic development strategies can be viewed at www.vancouvereconomic.com
“The Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we need to do everything we can to help our local economy capitalize on it,” said Mayor Robertson. “That means being aggressive in terms of how we market ourselves to the world. The ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ branding strategy allows us to define Vancouver on our terms.”
Mayor Robertson also announced several other strategic initiatives aimed at fostering business development and investment in the City. These include:
■ The Vancouver Economic Development Commission’s Economic Development Strategy for Vancouver, which will be released in November – the first economic development strategy for Vancouver in two decades.
■ Metro Vancouver Commerce, an unprecedented collaboration with local municipalities to target new businesses and market the region as a whole. Metro Vancouver Commerce will be the most aggressive business development program in Metro Vancouver’s history and will be rolled out in October.
■ Vancouver House, which will showcase ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ to the world during the 2010 Games. Vancouver House will provide a launching pad for local businesses, entrepreneurs and industries to gain access to a global audience during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
■ The development of a Low carbon economic development zone. Designed to spur economic activity and create jobs, these zones include financing mechanisms, government incentives and technology exchanges. Mayor Robertson has been in talks with US cities in the Pacific Northwest to collaborate on low carbon economic zones, and intends to enter into an agreement with the State of California this year.
“We’ve got cutting-edge businesses, we have the opportunity to lead the world in green technology research and development, and we have a dynamic, highly educated and creative workforce,” said Mayor Robertson. “With the new strategies and programs the City and the VEDC are rolling out, and in particular our business brand of ‘Vancouver Green Capital,’ we’re saying we’re open for business and the days of Vancouver being seen as a sleepy, laid-back West Coast town are in the past.”
The ‘Vancouver Green Capital’ global branding strategy has been developed over the last several months by the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. It creates a positive, clear and consistent image of Vancouver to market the City around the world – particularly during the 2010 Games. Up until now, the city has had no such strategy.
“Vancouver Green Capital is the business global branding strategy Vancouver needs going into the 2010 Games and beyond,” said Vancouver Economic Development Commission CEO Phil Heard. “I’m very pleased that the VEDC has been able to work closely with the City to develop a clear plan to put Vancouver’s businesses in front of customers the world over.”
More information on the city’s economic development strategies can be viewed at www.vancouvereconomic.com
Friday, October 02, 2009
Economic development leaders discuss future of Marathon County
by Colby Robertson
MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW) -- Leaders throughout Marathon County are trying to figure out ways to bring more jobs and businesses to our area.
It's all in an effort to improve the area economy.
The group is trying to figure out what puts Marathon County ahead of other communities.
Because once they figure out that marketing tool, the hope is that the area's economy will thrive.
David Eckmann, Economic Development Director of MCDECVO says, "We have no discernible marketing piece at this point in time for our region and we need to start tooting our horn because we have a heck of a lot to offer."
It's that attitude that is driving leaders of the Marathon County Economic Development Corporation, also known as MCDEVCO.
It's a public private partnership that builds on the business community in hopes of providing jobs. Eckmann says the key to moving forward in this economy is to build on what Marathon County already has to offer.
Eckmann says, "We have a strong manufacturing base here we have a strong history in agriculture and we have to build on those and it's transitioning from where we are today and taking our manufacturing base to advance manufacturing, taking our agriculture to advanced agricultural opportunities."
But some are skeptical of the price tag associated with the plan. Half a million dollars annually over the next five years; most of it coming out of the taxpayers pocket.
County Board Member Joanne Leonard says, "It's a very comprehensive plan, but with limited resources and dollars today we need to be very focused in terms of seeing results, because results in economic development take a long time."
]But MCDEVCO leaders say in order to stay competitive we can't sit back and wait for the tough times to pass.
Eckmann says, "We are in competition with these other communities that are like us. Everyone can offer quality of life, but every community has a quality of life, so what we have to do is offer a quality of life to the skilled workforce that we want to attract here, that creativity."
MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW) -- Leaders throughout Marathon County are trying to figure out ways to bring more jobs and businesses to our area.
It's all in an effort to improve the area economy.
The group is trying to figure out what puts Marathon County ahead of other communities.
Because once they figure out that marketing tool, the hope is that the area's economy will thrive.
David Eckmann, Economic Development Director of MCDECVO says, "We have no discernible marketing piece at this point in time for our region and we need to start tooting our horn because we have a heck of a lot to offer."
It's that attitude that is driving leaders of the Marathon County Economic Development Corporation, also known as MCDEVCO.
It's a public private partnership that builds on the business community in hopes of providing jobs. Eckmann says the key to moving forward in this economy is to build on what Marathon County already has to offer.
Eckmann says, "We have a strong manufacturing base here we have a strong history in agriculture and we have to build on those and it's transitioning from where we are today and taking our manufacturing base to advance manufacturing, taking our agriculture to advanced agricultural opportunities."
But some are skeptical of the price tag associated with the plan. Half a million dollars annually over the next five years; most of it coming out of the taxpayers pocket.
County Board Member Joanne Leonard says, "It's a very comprehensive plan, but with limited resources and dollars today we need to be very focused in terms of seeing results, because results in economic development take a long time."
]But MCDEVCO leaders say in order to stay competitive we can't sit back and wait for the tough times to pass.
Eckmann says, "We are in competition with these other communities that are like us. Everyone can offer quality of life, but every community has a quality of life, so what we have to do is offer a quality of life to the skilled workforce that we want to attract here, that creativity."
Thursday, October 01, 2009
GWEDC consultant will tell how city ranks in development
BY DAN VOORHIS
The Wichita Eagle
The consultant hired by the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition will provide a report card on how Wichita ranks in the economic development world and how to improve it.
The group has hired Site Selection Group of Dallas for $70,000, plus travel expenses.
There won't be any generalities, said Vicki Pratt Gerbino, president of the coalition.
"This is what we need," she said, "not a broad brush."
The plan will be paid for with public money, already within the coalition budget.
The coalition's 2009 budget is composed of about $600,000 from local government and $600,000 from the private sector.
Also this year, the coalition has $208,000 from a federal grant to develop the composites industry.
The study will contain:
* How Wichita and 940 other cities compare on dozens of factors, such as work force skills and wages, utility costs, infrastructure, cost of living, unionization, schools, regulatory environment and major employers.
* Figure which cities Wichita should regard as natural competitors in different industries, and how well we compete against them.
* An analysis of potential competitors for aircraft investment, and how Wichita stacks up against them.
* Which industries should Wichita pursue and how well the city could develop those industries.
* How three to five communities have been able to move from an economy dependent on one industry to a diverse economy.
* The names of 10 to 20 likely companies to pursue within those industries.
* A marketing plan, including recommended changes in incentives, regulations, training needs, real estate schemes and other strategies.
The Wichita Eagle
The consultant hired by the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition will provide a report card on how Wichita ranks in the economic development world and how to improve it.
The group has hired Site Selection Group of Dallas for $70,000, plus travel expenses.
There won't be any generalities, said Vicki Pratt Gerbino, president of the coalition.
"This is what we need," she said, "not a broad brush."
The plan will be paid for with public money, already within the coalition budget.
The coalition's 2009 budget is composed of about $600,000 from local government and $600,000 from the private sector.
Also this year, the coalition has $208,000 from a federal grant to develop the composites industry.
The study will contain:
* How Wichita and 940 other cities compare on dozens of factors, such as work force skills and wages, utility costs, infrastructure, cost of living, unionization, schools, regulatory environment and major employers.
* Figure which cities Wichita should regard as natural competitors in different industries, and how well we compete against them.
* An analysis of potential competitors for aircraft investment, and how Wichita stacks up against them.
* Which industries should Wichita pursue and how well the city could develop those industries.
* How three to five communities have been able to move from an economy dependent on one industry to a diverse economy.
* The names of 10 to 20 likely companies to pursue within those industries.
* A marketing plan, including recommended changes in incentives, regulations, training needs, real estate schemes and other strategies.
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