Efforts to promote the positive things about Danville and Vermilion County are advancing following the release of a new video promoting the area. On Monday the Danville City Council hosted a focus group discussion spotlighting the positive things about our area.
Terri White and Lisa Odendaal of White-Smith Marketing Group (shown in photo) led the discussion. White says they want input to help develop a new marketing tool for the area…
Audio Player{AUDIO: ‘’We see a lot of messaging around a lot of communities, and sometimes we feel like you could plunk any city or community’s name into that messaging. And what our goal is – what the City’s goal is – and then ultimately we’re also going to be working with the County to do the same thing – is to create that thing, that message, that story that is uniquely Danville…’’}
Some of the positive things members of the focus group mentioned about Danville and Vermilion County Monday include:
— Residents of the area are extremely welcoming (when people move here or visit the area).
— There are multiple opportunities here.
— Some members of the group said they moved back to Danville because they like the diversity of the city and its schools.
— There’s lots to do here…from attending a variety of events at the Fischer Theater, baseball games at Danville Stadium, and activities at Kickapoo State Park, and county and city parks to enjoying performances of the Danville Symphony and Danville Light Opera along with annual festivals…including Balloons Over Vermilion.
— Danville’s Golden Nugget Casino and the new Carle, Christie Clinic and FedEx distribution center (all of which will open this spring), were also listed among positive things about Danville.
But some people claim Danville is not a safe community.
Police Chief Chris Yates responded Monday to those concerns…
{AUDIO: ‘’Well I think we’re relatively safe, as long as you don’t participate in different criminal activities that may increase your probably of being unsafe. However, we have true issues that we need to deal with, and we’re not burying our head in the sand. We realize that there is a level of concern for public safety. However we are dealing with it and we like the direction we’re going.’’}
Smith says more focus group meetings will be held later. And all citizens will also have an opportunity for input before the new marketing message is announced probably this summer.
