Wednesday, October 24, 2012
News Release

The old message from the community that our young and educated need to, “go out there and make something happen,” is challenged in a new marketing piece produced by the City of Arkansas City. According to city manager Nick Hernandez, the City is turning to a new message of retaining and recruiting the talent that we produce here in Ark City. “We spend a lot of time and money developing people to be contributors to society, and then we send them out to do it somewhere else. We want people to know that they can make a difference and lead a successful life right here in Ark City.”

City leaders recently attended a 2-hour community marketing session held by Cowley First and from there developed the idea. According to Hernandez, Arkalalah is the perfect time to showcase the recent changes to the community and persuade people that Ark City is a city with momentum.

The front and back page piece highlights the recent advances the community has made in education/training, local healthcare, recreation, and arts and culture. While those are important, perhaps more important is the focus it places on appealing to those people who will be visiting town during Arkalalah. One section reads, “They say, ‘home is where the heart is,’ and we know a piece of your heart will always be in AC. This community is constantly changing. Young families, different ethnic populations, and new jobs are all working together to make AC a truly American place to live and raise a family.”

According to Hernandez, the city is trying to focus on the things that many overlook when choosing where to live.  “There is value in living in Ark City versus living in the big city or other places. We think part of our job should be to articulate that to people who can move here and make our community a better place.”

The piece references the difference in average home prices, commuting time to work, traffic, movies and entertainment, as well as the price of eating out locally. “We know it is difficult to make the decision to move. That is why we want to paint the full picture of the difference living in Ark City can mean to those who have moved away.”

The manager makes very clear what the bottom line of this effort is. “We want people to move back to Ark City and start a business, gain new training/skills, or to raise their family. Whatever the case, we want them here,” said Hernandez.
 
In tandem with this effort is collaboration between the City, the South Central Kansas Medical Center and USD 470 to offer tours of the advancements made in the community. Visitors and residents can tour the new hospital facilities between 9a.m.-4p.m. Wed., Thurs., and Fri. The Cherokee Strip Museum will show off its renovations 10a.m.-5p.m. Wed. thru Sat. USD 470 will offer tours of the changes made at the high school and the new sports facilities between 9a.m.-3p.m. Thurs. Visitors and residents can learn more about the tours by calling City Hall at 620-441-4415.