Communication played many roles and was delivered in a variety of ways throughout the life of the Business Case Management Program. At the beginning, there was not a dedicated Communications Specialist on the team. Early program communication was primarily completed through email and, to a lesser extent, by regular mail. In September of 2010, a full-time Communications specialist was added.
The program used communication in the following capacities:
- Program marketing
- Program branding; The initiative name change from Business Long Term Recovery to Business Success was intended to send a clear signal to the flood affected businesses that they are turning the corner of recovery with a position look toward the future.
- Notification of workshops
- Notification of community resources available
- Notification of business related events; email, letters, postcards, handouts during client visit and flyers were created.
- Use of Social media; feature stories were written and posted. There were between 100 and 200 who connected on Facebook or followed on Twitter.
- Messaging was completed through bi-weekly “News to use” emails, letters, postcards, the Chamber of Commerce reports and media releases.
- On-line surveys were created where critical data was collected
- Messaging was completed through the City of Cedar Rapids internal newsletters and community notices.
Insight #1: Communications with flood-affected businesses to inform them on issues and make resources known is an important need throughout the life of the program.
Change: A communications resource would be structured into the program through internal or external means.
Outcome: intensive outreach and promotion of available services, announcements and events would have been more efficient, effective and may have resulted in more program participation and more impact to the business community.
Click here to see the brochure.
Gazette Article: December 25, 2011
The Survivors - Case Management Team Made Big Difference Despite a Late Start
Chamber Report: November 2010
Putting the Pieces Together for Business
Chamber Special Report: July 2008
Flood Recovery Issue
Archived Chamber Web site pages