ADEDC Wraps Up Industry Week Celebration With a Look Ahead
Monday, April 21st, 2014
Last week, the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (ADEDC) celebrated existing industries in the community with a series of events designed to build community awareness and support. Events included a new video launch, awards ceremony, golf outing and Business After Hours networking reception.
"It's always a highlight to be able to promote our existing industries. And it was a great week," said Barbara Rivera Holmes, director of marketing and existing industries for the ADEDC, of Albany-Dougherty Industry Celebration Week.
"At the awards ceremony, you could feel the swell of pride and emotion from the community for our existing industries,” she said. “It's empowering for the industry representatives to feel that and know they are appreciated."
Four local business were honored at the awards ceremony: Coats and Clark received the Global Commerce award, Better Brands of South Georgia received the Economic Impact award, Outdoor Network of Albany received the Excellence in Innovation award, and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital received the Good Life City Award for corporate community citizenship.
In addition, a new video, "Made in Albany," promoting the area's existing industries, was launched last Tuesday and played to a standing ovation at the awards ceremony on Wednesday. The video will be used by the ADEDC as part of its recruitment and promotional activities.
The golf outing and Business After Hours provided an opportunity for community members and industry representatives to mix and mingle in a fun, relaxed setting. Outdoor Network, one of the award winners, also won the 2014 ADEDC Masters of Industry Golf Challenge.
Momentum generated during Industry Celebration Week will provide a lift for the ADEDC branding campaign, which is scheduled to launch in mid-May. The campaign is designed to shift the way Albany is perceived and act as a catalyst to reinvigorate the area's economy.
"As a commission, we are feeling tremendous support right now for economic development. People are thirsty for growth and are willing to come together to facilitate it," Holmes said.
"We're going to take a strategic approach to the campaign rollout. It will include advertising, social media and community events that are sequenced in a way to maintain momentum."
The ADEDC has worked with Lattimer Communications of Atlanta over the past year to develop the branding campaign. Lattimer has designed campaigns for such entities as the city of Atlanta, DeKalb Medical in Lithonia and Georgia Power.
Information on the branding campaign rollout will be posted on the ADEDC website – www. choosealbany.com – as it becomes available.
