In a phone conference meeting today at 2:00, Supervisor Paul Baine hosted other leadership and a new Orange County marketing group to launch a new marketing strategy for the county. The purpose of the marketing campaign is to get in front of "gatekeepers" who make decisions about locating plants and businesses. "This is a business friendly place to do be," stated supervisor Baine.

With opening statements by Paul Baine, economist John Housing, Brian McGowan, Economic Development Agency Administrator, and Jessica Spaulding, Marketing Executive of Amies Communications, the "floor" was then opened for questions about the strategy.

The center piece of the strategy is the national exposure of the California Speedway, the largest spectator venue in the state of California. Joined with additional advertising, and promotions, the hope is to develop a branding strategy for the county using the raceway as a staging point with booths and displays.

"Our economy is the largest and most successful economy in the United States" said John Husing. But no one seems to know the magnitude outside of the area. The identity crisis has been well known for decades locally, the rest of the county remains only slightly aware of the area. "San Bernardino County has come of age", said Baine.

That probably remains to be seen, the county continually competes with Riverside County and the name Inland Empire seems to be competing for attention with both counties.

Can branding work? While the budget over five years was not disclosed, support of a strategy of any kind is a positive for the county, unless it is continually changed over the years and loses its focus as the composition of supervisors change. The program will tie with the theme "Opportunity California," and attempt to showcase San Bernardino County as one of the best business opportunities in the state.

"This is the place where we want people to live, work and grow families and businesses without having to commute to LA or Orange County," stated Baine.

InlandEmpire.US staff

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Posted at http://www.inlandempire.us/news/2006/08/san-bernardino-county-launches-new.html