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Branding helps cities attract, retain businesses ~ Hometown Source Page 1 of 6 INFORMATION hom E~-+! Publishers, lnt. ~ Hometown Source from ECM Publishers, Inc. • Home • Publications» • Capitol News • Columns & Opinon» • ECM Publishers» Search... Columns & Opinion Precious text Branding helps cities attract, retain .businesses Don Heinzman Editorial -Communities are trying to promote their unique qualities through what's become known as "branding." The branding is meant to attract attention of businesses looking for a place to locate, thus increasing the tax base of the community. Suburbs often are characterized as "burbs" with little identity and lumped in as bedroom communities. Hoping for more identity, some cities like Burnsville and Maple Grove, have actually built downtowns. Community celebrations, such as Braham's Homemade Pie Day, Isanti's Rodeo Days and the Anoka's Halloween observance help establish identity. There are many other well known brands including Caledonia as the "Wild Turkey Capitol," Anoka as the "Halloween Capitol," St. Paul as the "Capitol City," Minneapolis as "The City of Lakes," Little Falls as the city "Where the Mississippi Pauses, Discovery Begins." Lakeville prides itself as the "Southern Gateway to the Twins Cities," Apple Valley as "Plant, Grow, Prosper," Cambridge as "Minnesota's Opportunity Community," and Isanti as "A Community for Generations." Forest Lake, thanks to its American Legion Post, has billed itself as the "Fourth of July Capital of Minnesota" for nearly 90 years. Elk River, which is known as "Energy City," has an Economic Development Authority that hired a consultant to develop a branding program. Through research, the company, Chandler Thinks, found only 13 percent outside the city knew much about Elk River, except as a city to drive through. http://hometownsource.com/2011/09/29/branding-helps-cities-attract-retain-businesses/ 9/30/2011