Cloverdale BLT sets 2018 goals

CLOVERDALE -- In November representatives from all branches of local Cloverdale government and several organizations met in the first of what is sure to be many “roundtable discussions” on how to market and improve Cloverdale. The result was the formation of the Business Leadership Team (BLT), which has met twice in January, and at its most recent meeting set goals for the coming year.

The team named five goals: developing a five-point marketing strategy with a budget and funding partners; creating a wayfinding (signs leading visitors to important destinations) plan; developing a county-wide community calendar to better coordinate events; commercial and industrial economic development, especially on vacant and unused properties; constant county-wide communication among organizations, businesses and governments.

The BLT defined potential funding partners as local banks, Endeavor Communications, POET Biorefining, C-Bar-C Expo Center and others. The team also identifed Cloverdale Schools, especially the FFA program, as a potential manpower partner.

The five-point marketing strategy will include: billboards on Interstate-70; banners over main thoroughfares; social media; wayfinding; and beautification.

Also in marketing, the BLT will focus on distributing T-shirts and hats sporting the town’s brand (logo and motto), which is still being developed. The T-shirts will be part of the Be the Change-ACT program introduced to the Town Council last month, which are designed to raise awareness of local organizations and community involvement.

While some organizations will be working on individual projects, efforts toward getting signage (billboards, banners, wayfinding), developing the calendar and attracting businesses will be shared.

The regular members of the BLT are: Matt Nichols, pastor of Soul Harvest Church and a member of the Redevelopment Commission; Eric Freeman, director of the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Joshua Barrett, of the C-Bar-C Expo Center and president of the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce; Coweta Patton, president of the Town Council; Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway; and Social Media Manager Laura Hattan.

In the most recent meeting, Kristin Clary, executive director of Putnam County Economic Development, and Brian Cox, executive director of the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, were present to discuss coordinating efforts among Cloverdale, Greencastle and the county as a whole.

Toward the beginning of the meeting, Council President Patton set the tone by saying that, in her five years on the council, its “biggest asset” has been learning to work as a team.

“And we’ve got so much done,” Council President Patton said. “You’ve got to build the foundation before you can ever come up, and that’s what we’ve been working on these last three or four years, is getting the foundation of this town fixed. But now I think we’re ready to fly.”

The Business Leadership Team’s next regular meeting is set for Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall.