Laserfiche WebLink
hit „..,, Request for Action <br /> River <br /> To Item Number <br /> Economic Development Authority 7.1 <br /> Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br /> Advertising/Branding August 18, 2014 Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist <br /> Update <br /> Item Description Reviewed by <br /> Marketing,Advertising and Branding Update Brian Beeman,Director of Economic <br /> Development <br /> Reviewed by <br /> Jeremy Barnhart, Deputy Director CODD <br /> Action Requested <br /> Item presented for information. <br /> Background/Discussion <br /> Throughout the first half of 2014, Economic Development staff utilized a number of marketing <br /> initiatives to promote development, city land, the brand, and other city events and initiatives. Economic <br /> Development staff has scheduled weekly marketing meetings with Communications Staff which helps to <br /> streamline time lines and verify the communication guidelines are being followed. Here is a list of some <br /> of the more notable accomplishments with applicable results: <br /> Marketing materials—Staff is in the middle of updating marketing brochures due to changes in <br /> financial programs and business resources. New marketing brochures will be created by a graphic <br /> designer and content will be supplied by a copywriter,which is a new venture for the Economic <br /> Development Division. The new marketing brochures will project a more impactful Elk River story. <br /> Advertising—Several advertisements have been created and submitted to various industry magazines, <br /> which have an outreach of over 100,000 subscribers. Trade industry magazines consisted of Site Selector <br /> Magazine,Business Xpansion,Trade and Industry, and Enterprise Minnesota. Copies of all the industry <br /> magazines that include our advertisements are available for review. <br /> Promo items -As staff attends various trade shows,new promotional items were purchased to help <br /> attract and distribute to businesses—new items consist of 2G flash drives,pens, tablecloths,travel mugs <br /> and soft sided coolers. The new items will be distributed at various shows which will increase the reach of <br /> the department. <br /> Trade shows—Staff partnered with Elk River Municipal Utilities to promote Elk River at the Minnesota <br /> Real Estate Journal's June 6 Data Center Summit and the June 10 Energy Summit. The Summits attracted <br /> realtors from all over the Twin Cities metro area. Staff had a booth at the event, and also provided <br /> materials promoting Elk River's competitive advantages in data center and energy recruitment to each <br /> attendee. Staff met with about ten potential developers and added around 50 new contacts to the <br /> department's developer contact list. <br /> I P O I V E R E D ® r <br /> Template Updated 4/14 NATURE <br />