HomeMy WebLinkAboutIDC COMM 2/16/2016iW@L1ji t e 20447f0►Clo
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OFFICE
February 16, 2016 (JIB;;iirn, 2U P 12: 5b
The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Vice Chair Krista Hill Cummimgs l
Members present:
Robert Krentzman, Chairman
Beth Ashman -Collins
Matthew Cummings
Krista Hitt Cummings
David Martin
Nancy Watt
Others Present:
Maria Correia, Mansfield Holiday Inn
MOTION to approve IDC minutes of January 26, 2016 (Matt Cummings/Martin). Motion
passed.
2. Report on progress with MHS Principal Connolly about setting upon IDC social
media and marketing campaign with students
Jessica and Elizabeth created infographics. Feedback from the group:
' o focus on what people want not highlighting what they do not want.
o Switching between positive and negatives is confusing.
o Can the resolution be good enough to view on a phone?
o Particularly like the organization of the "Mansfield has a plan" graphic
o Want one page Executive Summary of the Survey.
Elizabeth's Project Presentation will be on May 18 at 2 PM
Bob Krentzman arrived at this time.
Two college students at Bridgewater State University have approached Krista to
volunteer with marketing work in order to get professional experience.
2. Communicating Survey Results to the Community
It is important that we disclose the survey results promptly. David Martin will create a "Why
Mansfield 02048?" Facebook Page. Through Facebook we can share via other related
groups with established Facebook presence: Downtown Business Association, Town,
Keep Mansfield Beautiful. There is concern about how to distribute the workload of
keeping the Facebook page current in the long-term.
Talked about the two audiences: communicating to the Mansfield community and
communicating to commercial realtors, developers, businesses and investors.
Mansfield, Massachusetts Industrial Development Commission MINUTES
Facebook is for the community, but will reach some local business people. Professionals
involved in site location will likely use the town's website to find resources.
We discussed the pluses and minuses of having our materials on the Town website verses
creating a separate site that the town links with. We could create a website for the Why
Mansfield campaign using a free service like Weebly. This would minimize costs to the
town including the cost of staff time. It would also give us the freedom to let the BSU
students get to work on web design independently of the official town site. The external
site could be oriented exclusively around Why Mansfield? campaign, whereas there will
certainly be information on official town website covering basic information.
Potential domain names:
Mansfield 02048
Why Mansfield MA
Do we need a verb? Invest Mansfield, Grow Mansfield?
Website and Facebook page will make it clear where Mansfield is (in Massachusetts).
Agreement was not reached on a name. We will start with "Why Mansfield 02048?" for
Facebook, but understand that it can change.
BSU students will first work on a logo (Why Mansfield 02048?), We need a logo for use on
the Website and Facebook Page.
Many people in town are focused on results from this committee in terms of revenue
generation for the town. Many current town discussions are about budget gaps and
making cuts, but a lot of hope has been placed on the revenue potential of economic
development.
Resources to post on the website
• Why Mansfield Brochure content
• One Page Executive Summary of Survey Findings + Full results
• links to press clips
• highlight things Mansfield has done to support economic development
• easy access to basic information on utilities, permitting
• Economic performance indicators
Wikapedia - Beth will look at current content.
3. Member questions and comments
Nancy Wall will meet with a few other members of IDC who live downtown to talk about how to
approach a Downtown Task Force. One idea is to start with focus groups to get input from
current businesses about the advantage and challenges of doing businesses downtown. Beth
shared an image of the current sign directing people to North Main Street Restaurants and
Specialty shops and said she would like the group to update the design of the signs. We still
need guidance from Bill Ross on the rules for subcommittees.
Krentzman emphasized that even when we are talking about promoting one specific area of
town like Downtown or Cabot Business Park, there are benefits to all areas of town through
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Mansfield, Massachusetts Industrial Development Commission MINUTES
more exposure and customers. The focus on industrial, commercial, and Main Street all re -
enforce each other. We need to help people to see common interests.
We could potentially host an Opening a Business In Mansfield seminar. Matt Cummings
suggested that we could invite a lender or other business professionals to lead an informational
seminar.
Can we find a way to market Mansfield businesses to the employees of Mansfield area
employers? A Welcome Packet? Group marketing?
GATRA service — could it better serve the Business Park and Downtown?
Future Meetings: Next scheduled IDC meeting is Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (This deviates from
our 3rd Tuesday schedule because of a conflict).
March 22 Meeting Focus: The Commercial and Industrial Parks
Marie reaching out to Steve Clancy, Bob reaching out to Shaun Burke.
Beth will summarize zoning changes, Strategic Plan, and Master Plan items for
the park, and Northeastern Students Cabot Park challenge.
April. 19 Fincom (Krentzman is coordinating)
David Martin suggested Bill Vernon is a potential speaker. Works for NFIB and lives in
Mansfield.
MOTION to Adjourn passes (Wall/Matt Cummings) 8:45 PM.
Signature of Clerk, Beth Ashman -Collins
Mansfield, Massachusetts Industrial Development Commission MINUTES