Transcript Absolutely Indee - Independence Area Chamber of Commerce

Independence Area Chamber of Commerce
Marketing Campaign Committee
Presentation also available online at:
www.indycommerce.com/absolutelyindee.php
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About Absolutely Indee
• The Marketing Committee is a newly appointed committee of the
Independence Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Buchanan
County Economic Development Commission(BCEDC).
• The Chamber Marketing Committee’s purpose is to serve as the marketing
arm of the Chamber and help promote the City of Independence and
Independence area with the Absolutely Indee marketing campaign.
– Absolutely Indee is the name of the marketing campaign the committee will
implement
• The Chamber Marketing Committee consists of volunteers and staff personnel
who either live in or work in the Independence area. The group includes the
Chamber Director, Economic Development Director, community leaders,
realtors, bankers, and marketing professionals.
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Mission
To organize, create and implement marketing strategies that
compliment and promote community visioning designed to inform
current and prospective citizens on the qualities and benefits of
living in the Independence, Iowa area.
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Goals
• Short-term:
– Educate the community about our efforts and ask for their help.
– Promote “Welcome Package” that includes valued items from local
businesses and organizations
• Mid-term:
– Promote any City & County incentives that tie into our long-term goal &
mission, i.e. housing initiative, vision planning, etc.
• Long-term: Persuade individuals, families, and businesses to relocate
to the Independence area.
– Increase tax base; increase qualified workforce, create jobs;
increase school enrollment
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Action Plan
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New Neighbor Welcome Package
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Launched July 6, 2010 (several packages delivered to date)
Revamp/update the current Chamber website
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Proposed launch date: Fall/Winter 2010
Launch of Internal Relocation Marketing Campaign
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Launched: August 2010
Launch of External Relocation Marketing Campaign
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Proposed launch date: September 1, 2011
Action Plan #1 - New Neighbor
Welcome Package
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Families and individuals who move to the Independence
area will receive a Welcome Package containing items
donated by chamber member businesses.
The Welcome Package serves as a way to make the new
residents feel like they are part of the community.
As another benefit to Chamber membership, members
get the opportunity to include donated items in the
Welcome Package. This allows participating businesses
an opportunity to make a great first impression with new
residents.
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To qualify for the Welcome Package
• New resident must not have lived in the City for the past 3 years
• New resident must own a home in the Independence area or be listed on a rental
lease/agreement
• New resident must fill out a New Neighbor Welcome Form and submit it to the
Chamber office
• Can only receive the Welcome Package once
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Action Plan #2- Vibrant Chamber
Website
• The current Chamber website has become an information source for the
community, a redesign of this website will allow it to become more of an
effective promotional tool.
• The new design will be easy to navigate and focus on not only the Chamber’s
membership opportunities, but also on the features and benefits of living in
the Independence area.
– It will serve as an excellent launching pad for the Absolutely Indee
relocation campaign & include a relocation guide.
– It will link directly to information on economic development, City
information and other public services.
– Designed to enable easy integration with an updated City website to keep
a consistent community theme.
• Surrounding communities have taken an aggressive approach to marketing
their communities through enhanced websites. It’s our time to become the
leader in marketing our great community.
– Proposed launch date: Fall 2010
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Chamber Website
New Design
Features:
•Attractive images of
our vibrant community
•User friendly
•Easy to navigate
•Includes
comprehensive
relocation guide
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Action Plan #3 – Internal Relocation
Marketing Campaign
•
Educate current residents & businesses about the Absolutely Indee
campaign
Encourage current residents & businesses to become ambassadors with a
unified message
The Marketing Committee will visit area civic organizations to share the
campaign message
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City Council: July ‘10, School Board: August ‘10
Lions
The Marketing Committee will prepare the Absolutely Indee Marketing
Brochure
–
This marketing piece will be distributed to realtors, businesses, school
officials, City officials, etc. to hand out to prospective residents
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The brochure will help spread a unified message
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An electronic pdf version will also be available
Launched: August 1, 2010
Action Plan #4 – External Relocation
Marketing Campaign
• Encourage potential residents & businesses to
relocate to the area
• Utilize billboards, radio, social networking sites,
etc. to market to the outside area.
• The Marketing Committee will work with the new
Independence Alumni Association to market the
Absolutely Indee Campaign to Independence
Alumni
– Encourage Alumni to visit the new Chamber
website to find information on relocation,
jobs, places to live, work and play
Proposed Launch Date: September 1, 2010
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Questions/Comments/Feedback
Welcome!
• Marketing Committee Contacts:
– Tammy Rasmussen, Chamber Director
• [email protected]
• Chamber Office: 334.7178
– Dawn Kress, Committee Volunteer
• [email protected]
– Jenny Yoder, Committee Volunteer
• [email protected]
– Tricia Beatty, Committee Volunteer
• [email protected]
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