effectively telling your community’s...

2018 ECG Economic Development Summit| April 16, 2018

Effectively Telling Your Community’s Story

Photo Credit: National Geographic Kids

avalanche

Agenda

Introductions

The Economic Development Landscape

Taking a Holistic Approach

Telling Your Story

Closing


Photo Credit: Jennifer Emery

Tony DeLisiVice President, Avalanche Consulting


National economic development strategists

Serving 100+ communities since 2005

Headquartered in Austin, Texas

85+ years of combined experience

Services

o Economic development strategies

o Labor shed analyses and talent alignment plans

o Custom research

o Marketing and branding services

o Organizational assessments

o HeadlightTM data portals

avalanche


C O N S U L T I N Gavalanche

StrategyMarketingAnalysis

VTNH

ME

MANY

PA

CT

NJ

DEMDDC

MI

OHINIL

WI

ND

IA

MO

AR

LA

MS AL GA

FL

SC

NCTN

KY

WVVA

ND

SD

NE

KSCO

WY

NMAZ

UT

ID

WA

OR

NV

CA

MT

TX

OK

RI

We are strategists for the nation’s top performing economies.

Economic Development Corp

w w w . B a s t r o p E D C . o r g


Agenda

Introductions



Telling Your Story

Closing


Photo Credit: American Option Insurance

Competition is Extraordinarily High

50 states3,100 counties374 MSAs19,400 municipal governments

What is the top concern for businesses in your community?

Question


Talent is King

96%of Avalanche’s ED Index

Survey Respondents Reported an Increase in the Importance of Skilled Workforce


Changing Site Selection

Businesses still look at many factors -

• Geographic location

• Physical infrastructure

• Utilities

• Business climate

• Customer base

• Real estate

But Talent has risen to the top

US REGION

STATE

METRO

COUNTY

CITY

SITE

Traditional Site Selection Hierarchy


The Hunt for Workers


3%

7%

11%

'10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE2010 – 2018

SOURCE: AVALANCHE CONSULTING / US BLS

You are not Alone


2%

6%

10%

Applin

gBa

con

Baldw

in

Barro

w

Ben H

illBib

b

Brantl

eyBry

anBu

rke

Calhou

n

Candle

r

Catoosa

Chatha

m

Chatto

ogaClar

ke

ClaytonCob

b

Colquit

tCoo

k

Crawfor

dDad

e

Decatu

r

Dodge

Dough

ertyEa

rly

Effing

ham

Eman

uel

Fann

inFlo

yd

Frank

lin

GilmerGlyn

n

Grady

Gwinnett Hall

Harals

onHartHen

ryIrw

in

Jasp

er

Jeffe

rson

John

sonLa

mar

Laure

ns

Libert

yLo

ng

Lumpk

in

McIntos

h

Madiso

n

Meriweth

er

Mitche

ll

Montgo

mery

Murray

Newton

Ogletho

rpePe

achPie

rcePolk

Putna

mRa

bun

Richm

ondSc

hley

Semino

le

Steph

ens

Sumter

Talia

ferroTa

ylor

Terre

ll TiftTo

wnsTro

up

Twigg

sUps

on

Walt

on

War

ren

Way

ne

Whe

eler

Whit

field

Wilk

es

Wort

h

SOURCE: AVALANCHE CONSULTING / EMSI

GEORGIAAVERAGE

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE – GEORGIA COUNTIESFEBRUARY 2018

Agenda

Introductions



Telling Your Story

Closing


Photo Credit: Amber Rhea, Flickriver

Modern economic development must be holistic –


inclusive of every opportunity to make your community a more prosperous place for all residents and businesses.


We Can No Longer Operate in Silos

Talent + Education

Innovation + Entrepreneurship

Culture + Recreation

avalanche

Economic Inclusion

Infrastructure

Public Policy

Communications

Quality of Place

$ Affordability

Leadership

Expanding our Mission

BUSINESSATTRACTION

RETENTION &EXPANSION

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Traditional ED

TALENT &EDUCATION

+ =

PLACEMAKING


Communication is Key


Internal & External

Agenda

Introductions



Telling Your Story

Closing


Photo Credit: Brian Brown

How to tell your Story

Know Yourself


Know Yourself – Conduct an Honest Assessment

• Identify your strengths and weaknesses

• Inventory your assets

• Listen to your constituents

• Articulate your shared values

• Develop a common vision

• Set goals and metrics



Know Yourself

Collaborate


Collaborate – Working with your Partners

• Get out of your silos

• Build a common agenda

• Think regionally

• Utilize all your resources

• Be inclusive



Know Yourself

Collaborate

Communicate


Communicate – Creating Powerful Messaging

• Educate your community about economic development

• Advocate for specific investments and policy changes

• Market your opportunities to external audiences – including target industries and talent


Educate

• Listen to your constituents – And let them know they’ve been heard!

• Keep your community informed.

• Develop strong partnerships with your local media.

• Celebrate your successes – But don’t be afraid to discuss your challenges.

• Be transparent.


www.aaroregion.com


Austin Area Research Organization

http://www.aaroregion.com/

Advocate

• Identify areas of collaboration.

• Share resources.

• Leverage the collective impact of your stakeholders.

• Use data to provide a non-partisan foundation for decision-making.

• Don’t be afraid to be bold and tackle issues.


www.columbuspartnership.com

www.blog.columbusregion.com


Columbus 2020

http://www.columbuspartnership.com/

http://www.blog.columbusregion.com/

Economic developers have unique insight on how the many different facets of your community intersect to affect its

economic health.

Become the trusted resource for your community on these important issues.


Market

• Craft an authentic and inspiring brand identity.

• Utilize your data to uncover unique competitive advantages.

• Provide data that will help the site selection process.

• Share a common message across marketing materials and ambassadors.

• Develop strategic content and a channel plan.


Houston: The City With No Limits

www.thecitywithnolimits.com


http://www.houstonnolimits.com/

www.desmoinesmetrodata.com

Headlight Data Portals

www.charlestonregionaldata.comEffectively Telling Your Community’s Story

http://www.desmoinesmetrodata.com/

http://www.charlestonregionaldata.com/

Communication Planning

• Identify channels based on your target audiences.• Where are they located?• Where do they consume their news?• What social media platforms are they active on?• What people or organizations are influencers?

• Write content for each channel with your target audiences in mind.• Layer data into your advocacy and communications platform to add credibility.• Utilize benchmarks when applicable to help illustrate your point.

• Develop a calendar for each campaign.


Charleston

http://www.crda.org/


http://www.crda.org/

Questions?


Agenda

Introductions



Telling Your Story

Closing


Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Thank you!

Tony DeLisiVice President, Avalanche [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

2018 ECG Economic Development Summit| April 16, 2018


Photo Credit: National Geographic Kids

avalanche

effectively telling your community’s...

Documents