Cloverdale creates Business Leadership Team

CLOVERDALE -- Representatives from all branches of local Cloverdale government recently met in a roundtable discussion of how to market Cloverdale to businesses and potential residents.

The governments represented were: Town of Cloverdale (Town Manager and Building Inspector Wayne Galloway, Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway, Social Media Manager Laura Hatton); Cloverdale Town Council (President Coweta Patton); Cloverdale Redevelopment Commission (President Wayne Galloway, Matt and Andrea Nichols); Putnam County Visitor Bureau (Eric Freeman) and Planning/BZA Commission (Roy Lotz of both, James Coy of BZA).

Local businesses represented were: C-Bar-C Expo Center (owner Carl Harlan, Joshua Barrett and Steve Jackson) and Ottawa Homes (Don and Kay Gedert).

Local organizations represented were: Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce (President Joshua Barrett) and Soul Harvest Church (Nichols).

The representatives agreed to create a Business Leadership Team (BLT) tasked with creating an overall strategy for marketing and attracting business to Cloverdale with an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 in funding.

The BLT is composed of Matt Nichols of Soul Harvest Church and Cloverdale Redevelopment Commission; Eric Freeman of the Putnam County Visitor Bureau; Joshua Barrett and Dana Mitchell of the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce; Coweta Patton of the Cloverdale Town Council; and Social Media Manager Laura Hatton.

The first regular meeting of the BLT is set for Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall at 154 S. Main St.

The roundtable discussed the Interstate 70 billboards, located on the back side of the truck stop, Cloverdale will use to advertise itself and local businesses. It also discussed how businesses can attract customers with window and sidewalk decorations.

Barrett, Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce president, mentioned how 20,000 customers pass McDonald’s and even residents don’t know what services are available in Cloverdale, but Clerk-Treasurer Galloway said Cloverdale is “primed for business” with many empty buildings and land.

Another roundtable discussion was set for February. Businesses or organizations that would like to attend the next roundtable should contact Barrett at 317-767-5906 or Clerk-Treasurer Galloway at 765-795-6033 ext. 1.

For more information about the BLT, persons may contact Barrett at 317-767-5906 or Clerk-Treasurer Galloway at 765-795-6033 ext. 1.