City to be branded
Published 1:45 am Saturday, November 26, 2011
A presentation about the community-branding project the city is pursuing is scheduled as part of the Washington City Council’s meeting Monday.
During the summer, the council endorsed the project, which will promote Washington and surrounding environs. The project is an initiative of the Washington Tourism Development Authority, Washington Harbor District Alliance and the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.
A committee of community partners (WTDA, WHDA, the City and chamber) has been working for approximately a year to develop a comprehensive brand. Each partner was asked to invest $2,000 in the project.
The development of a community brand will allow the city and other partner organizations to have one common theme in its efforts to promote the city to businesses, residents and visitors, according to the committee.
The committee has selected the services of Eye Integrated Communications in Greenville to conduct the research needed for brand development. Eye Integrated Communications is presently the agency responsible for WTDA’s marketing/advertising campaign.
Eye Integrated Communications conducted a workshop with a broad cross-section of residents in September. The purpose of the workshop was to identify the common messages and impressions that are associated with Washington as a place to live, conduct business or visit. The results of the workshop have been condensed into a PowerPoint presentation for public viewing. City Channel 9 (channel 9 on the Suddenlink cable-television service in Washington) is broadcasting a presentation of the work that came out of the undertaking. The presentation goes through the process and identifies key messages that resonated with the participants. The presentation, titled “COW Branding Workshop Summary” may be viewed at various times during the day on City Channel 9 or on http://vimeo.com/washingtonnc/videos.
Tyronne Wilson, with the East Carolina Trojans of the American Basketball Association, is scheduled to make a presentation to the council about efforts to have the Trojans play several times in Washington as part of their home schedule. Wilson appeared before the council earlier this year to explain that effort, saying he would return later with more details.
Wilson is seeking the city’s support, including funding, in bringing the Trojans to Washington.
The council’s entire agenda may be obtained by visiting the city’s web¬site at www.washington-nc.com. The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St.