Among the many services performed under the guise of redevelopment was the marketing of city business climates and opportunity. Now, cities are trying new ways of putting their best foot forward in a quest to attract new economy opportunity.
In the past, cities had invested in print media advertising in business journals. But in Rancho Cucamonga, where budget constraints forced the city to stop spending on advertisements, the city noticed a decrease in the number of calls they were receiving from perspective transplant companies.
Other cities have moved to hiring outside marketing firms to use more targeted assets to increase market visibility outside of the local area. A third approach has been to invest time and resources into improving economic policy and city appeal, hoping that the efforts will promote a business climate that is recognized as an easy opportunity for growth.
From the Contra Costa Times:
With the recent loss of redevelopment money and in a poor economy, some Inland Empire cities are looking to different options to advertise their cities to businesses.
Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to dissolve local redevelopment agencies and move their tax dollars to Sacramento. The state Supreme Court in mid-December upheld the law and it took effect in February.
Read the full article here.