It was all smiles all arouond when the city announced its airport industrial park. But few residents have been there. File Photo.
The airport industrial park may be the source of a big part of North Bay’s future, but few people have likely ever seen it.
Despite millions of dollars of investment from all three levels of government, very few people within the city know about its importance.
Mayor Al McDonald says the city is partly at fault.
“We have a challenge trying to communicate all the good things that are going on. That's something that we’re trying to change. We don’t have a communications officer here in the city of North Bay. And a lot of times we can’t tell the story of business, because a lot of businesses don’t want any publicity as well, so we have to respect that.”
He says part of what is overlooked by longtime residents is something that is attracting new ones.
McDonald says more professionals are taking lifestyle into consideration when moving, something most residents in North Bay take for granted.
“Lifestyle is just as important as economic development, in fact they go hand in hand. Yes we are attracting more people to our community. People will say the population hasn’t changed. But if you really look at it, families are having fewer kids now. 25 years ago they had 2.6 kids now they have 1.2 yet our population stays the same.”
McDonald says the city has also built a thousand homes in the past twelve years, which is also a sign of increased population.
McDonald is also quick to point out that while there is not a communications director, there is a communications strategy.
McDonald says the city’s external communications strategy ‘punches well above our weight class’ with a much smaller budget than other cities.
He says the best thing is to maximize limited dollars through partnerships with groups like the chamber of commerce, in order to make the best bang for their buck.
The mayor says like many other communities, the real communications strategy is external, through the web.
“We use social media strategically with videos telling our story and what we are all about. This is the most cost effective way of reaching around the world, all with a click of the mouse. The videos need to be a story of not only business but of quality of life.’
For an example of the city's message to the world, you can follow city links.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y5lpTkhNonk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPb0eua0qLM&feature=player_embedded
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TVddboQ9c4&feature=player_embedded
