SOREDI Launches Innovative National Campaign at Annual Meeting June 25th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 17, 2014
Contact: Colleen Johnston, Senior Business Development Manager, SOREDI
Ofc: (541) 773-8946,
Email: Colleen@soredi.org

SOREDI Launches Innovative National Campaign
at Annual Meeting June 25th

MEDFORD, OR- Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) will debut a revolutionary national marketing campaign titled, The Southern Oregon Edge, at their June 25, 2014 Annual Meeting held at the Inn at the Commons at 1:30 pm in Medford. The integrated marketing campaign shares the business advantages of the region through stories and photographs of both successful and innovative businesses in the region.

The Business Recruitment and Retention Committee of SOREDI realized that outside of the region, people were unaware of the unique qualities of Southern Oregon. In anecdotal outreach to associates in other areas, it became clear that what other regions of the United States first thought of about Oregon is that it’s rainy. They also assumed that the liberal political environment and regulatory culture of Portland, is the norm throughout the state. If people knew anything about Southern Oregon, they knew Crater Lake, perhaps the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and not much more.

SOREDI has been the public/private non-profit organization working for economic development in Josephine and Jackson County for27 years. Their programs have included grants, loans, management of enterprise zones, business re location and expansion assistance, and being an excellent hub for connecting businesses with all the resources that are offered from federal, state, local, and private sources. SOREDI’s relationship with local government and private businesses makes them the perfect network to get to know the region from a business perspective.

It’s true that amazing quality of life and sunny skies are cited again and again as part of what draws business owners to Southern Oregon, but communicating exactly how that’s actually a business advantage has been a breakthrough of the campaign. Several other exciting advantages have been revealed through the stories as well including ease of distribution, 10x the national average of internet retailers, and a great local talent pool.

The campaign will have its launch at SOREDI’s annual meeting in Medford located at the Inn at the Commons which historically is attended by nearly 300 business and government leaders. After the campaign’s coming out party on June 25th the national PR strategy will kick into high gear. According to Ron Fox, Executive Director of SOREDI, “Making a decision where to start or relocate your business is partly facts and figures and partly about feeling like you know a place. We want to let the world know who we are: our friendly communities, our innovative spirit, our culture of service and hard work. We’ve sat on this secret for too long, it’s time to introduce Southern Oregon to the business world.”

The Southern Oregon Edge marketing team will present the campaign at SOREDI’s annual meeting. Reservations for the meeting are required and can be made through SOREDI’s website.
Media is welcome to attend.

REGISTRATION FOR SOREDI ANNUAL MEETING & LAUNCH OF THE SOUTHERN OREGON EDGE CAMPAIGN
https://soredi.org/calendar.asp?eventID=214#.U585svldXCs