Downtown marketing task force unveils “Bring it! Downtown” campaign

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington city leaders have agreed the investment of $60,000 is worth the cost. That’s how much money from the city’s parking fund they are giving a marketing task force to encourage folks to shop and dine downtown.

“Bring it! Downtown” is the branding the marketing task force made up of local business and property owners is pushing.

Joan Loch with the Downtown Business Alliance, which is spearheading the project said, “We are always having new people relocate here. We need to educated them and entice them.”

Loch says the group will use radio, print and TV to spread the message.

Although the idea is new to many in the public, the task force has been working on the project for eight months. Loch says the group is also investing money back into the local economy.

John Laforgia of Porters Neck says he supports the city’s decision to invest $60,000 in the project.

“Sixty thousand dollars? I don’t think that’s too much money to spend on advertising in a city of this size,” Laforgia said.

Buying downtown is exactly the goal and the task force is hoping its marketing technique will bring the masses.

“It’s to make them sit up and say you know what I haven’t gone downtown too often. I need to go back down there again, I need to take my child to the children’s museum. I need to go to the public library,” Loch said.

The $60,000 coming from the city for the project will be spent in two phases. Half will come from this year’s budget and the other half from next year’s budget.