For those economic development organizations in need of assistance with creating or revising a brand positioning statement—or core message—Smart Solutions Group can help.  In some cases, the process validates the existing direction and focus of your economic development marketing program and key messages.  Economic development groups may find they need to enhance their existing effort with a better defined core message.  And in other cases, organizations may use the process to further develop and refine their key messages.

What is a positioning statement?   A positioning statement expresses how you “wish to be perceived” in the minds of your customers.  It is the core message you want to deliver consistently throughout your entire development program.

Through a consensus-building process, Smart Solutions Group will seek answers to the following questions: 

• What are your community’s/region’s most marketable business location assets/strengths?
  

• Who is the target audience and what are the needs/wants of the target audience—what’s relevant?
  

• What is different, unique about your location than that of your competitors and are these factors relevant to the target audience?
  

• What is the most leverageable position your community/region can pursue?
  

• How can your community/region leverage its position of advantage to the maximum benefit?  
  

• And perhaps most importantly, what is the core message your community/region should be delivering consistently through your economic development marketing-sales efforts.

A clear, defensible, differentiated positioning statement and supporting key messages to guide the community/regional brand marketing-sales program along with recommendations to bring the brand positioning statement to life.  

Smart Solutions Group Fees for Services  - The estimated cost of this service is $3,000 plus expenses.  Black Hills Energy, foermly Aquila, may pay up to $1,500 plus consultant travel expenses, with the community providing the other $1,500. Group meeting meals and refreshments are the responsibility of the local economic development organization.

Apply on-line by completing an

For more information, complete our Information Request Form or contact your Economic Development Team Representative.