Local PR tactics to elevate your community presence

Author: Jaime Gardner, Executive Vice President, Novitas Communications

Often, companies and entities that do business in communities large and small neglect a key public relations focus that is fairly simple: communicating with their neighbors. Taking the time to reach out to the neighborhood is good business, whether you are building a new apartment complex, a factory, or bringing a new retail business into town. Being up-front and transparent is the best path towards neighbors supporting your project.

When a new business comes to town, people generally react in one of two ways – freaking out about negative affects, or being really excited about new homes/jobs/shopping. There is always a concern about traffic patterns, water and energy resources, and more strain on local infrastructure. The best way to address those concerns? Often, all it takes is showing you care.

There are three easy tactics that companies can use when starting a new project. First, educate the public, early and often. Send out press releases at project milestones. Second, reach out and build relationships with local elected officials and community leaders. Educate them and keep them up to date on project milestones. And third, hold community meetings to continue that direct education. Offering a forum for concerns to be raised, and giving people the opportunity to hear your answers to those concerns in that public forum can change the tide of public opinion, or keep people on your side.

In support of all of these tactics, you also need as much data as you can collect – do your due diligence, and educate the public and community leaders about those efforts at every step. Publicize any and all environmental reviews. Broadcast economic impact reports and future job opportunities. Make sure to highlight all that your project will bring to the community.

If you have an upcoming project with local community impact, please reach out to us today to schedule a consultation. Novitas would be happy to help you create a strategy and implement a community relations plan that will help you forge the best path forward for your project.