Franklin County Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation Renamed
Franklin County’s three development agencies have rebranded themselves.
The Board of Directors of the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency, Local Development Corporation and Civic Development Corporation recently announced it will now operate as the Franklin County Economic Development Corp. (FCEDC).
The new name unifies the three entities and better reflects FCEDC’s broad mission as a full-service economic development organization for Franklin County.
The FCEDC has also started marketing Franklin County as a great place to do business and live with the new Adirondack Frontier brand.
Two-thirds of Franklin County is located within the Adirondack Park and the county shares a 35-mile international land border (or “frontière” in French) with Canada. The Adirondack Frontier brand allows FCEDC to celebrate and promote the intersection of these defining features, that are only found in Franklin County and neighboring Clinton County. The brand also positions Franklin County with an image of New York state.
Patience Fairbrother, Senior Director of Digital & Brand Strategy for Development Counsellors International (DCI), explained that it was important to incorporate New York into the brand. “New York has a distinct and recognizable shape and international name recognition. Featuring it in the brand sets the region apart from the other 23 Franklin Counties in the United States.”
In September, FCEDC retained DCI to assist with the brand development after receiving and reviewing dozens of proposals from firms across the country. Considered one of the premier economic development marketing firms in the country, DCI’s unparalleled experience in economic development marketing, along with its long and diverse client list, led the FCEDC Board of Directors to hire the firm to assist with the development of the new brand and upcoming economic development website.
After gathering feedback from 108 stakeholders through focus group sessions and an online survey, DCI developed brand messaging and a recommended brand direction. The resulting Adirondack Frontier brand provides FCEDC with a versatile brand that it can use as it tailors promotional campaigns for its target audiences of corporate executives and site selectors, entrepreneurs, prospective residents, and visitors.
CEO Jeremy Evans said, “Simplifying our name and developing a captivating place brand that we can use to promote Franklin County as an amazing place to do business and call home has been a priority for us. We couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
Garry Douglas, President and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, praised the announcement: “Franklin County has been a focus for the chamber for several years. We have been pleased by the great progress FCEDC has made in putting Franklin County on the map. This new name and brand direction shows that they are serious about economic development and we look forward to a continued close partnership.”
Over the coming weeks and months, FCEDC will roll out use of the brand, starting with its social media channels and emails. In March it will release a new website, which will incorporate the new brand and highlight everything the county has to offer.