Next week, Maryland will honor Economic Development Week. This is Maryland’s 10th annual celebration, and it’s an excellent opportunity for all of us to tell the story of what economic development is, why it’s so important, and the value it brings to the state.
This year’s Economic Development Week is unique in that it’s going to continue through the rest of 2020 as MEDA will be highlighting economic development initiatives throughout the rest of the year.
(If you’re receiving this newsletter while you’re attending IEDC’s virtual Economic Development Week, let’s connect! Add me on LinkedIn here.)
In a recent newsletter, we shared the importance of telling your story to your elected officials.
Economic Development Week in Maryland is a powerful opportunity to share your story with the economic development industry and your community at large.
Through sharing the ways that you have helped local businesses to thrive, pivot, and get the support they need right now, you can showcase your organization’s effectiveness and the importance of the community’s investment.
Here are a few ways to tell your story:
- Utilize your local media and social media outlets. You can do this by identifying the influencers in your community to help tell the story. (i.e., Chambers of Commerce, members of your city council, local reporters, etc.)
- Record a Facebook Live during Economic Development Week or leading up to it.
- Incorporate the hashtag #EconDevWeek and use the tag @MEDAmd in your Tweets.
- Create social media graphics that promote economic development as an investment, the return on that investment for a community, and the impact that economic development makes in transforming lives, creating opportunities, inspiring innovation, and enriching communities.
- Write a letter to the editor and send it to your local newspaper.
- Write an op-ed piece, pitch a story idea about a new program or a program that has been effective in transforming lives in your community.
The point is not how you choose to tell your story, but that you just do it! Find a creative way to promote yourself and the economic development profession at any point from October 19-23.
How will you tell your story? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment down below!
‘Til next time,
Sandy
