Real Rutland Launches Transition at Start of 2022
Rutland, Vt – At the start of a new year, Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) is pleased to share new developments relating to the Regional Marketing Initiative – Real Rutland. The new effort will directly support two local businesses, which have been engaged to support marketing promotion.
In the fall of 2021, following the conclusion of its first year as a newly merged entity (formerly Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce and Rutland Economic Development Corporation), CEDRR staff and the Marketing Committee took a deep look at the campaign with an eye towards using in house staff and local talent. It was with unanimous support to shift the campaign while supporting two talented, highly skilled, local businesses to support the work.
For the past several years, CEDRR has worked closely with local graphic designer, Lyz Tomsuden for graphic design needs, and Greg Youkov of FiveFire Media for website redesign and administrative assistance. With the transition, CEDRR will contract with local graphic designer, Lyz Tomsuden as well as FiveFire Media.
“We are very pleased to be moving forward into 2022 with this new staffing alignment for Real Rutland,” says Lyle Jepson, CEDRR executive director. “Real Rutland was built to support our greater Rutland Region and this transition will do exactly that in a new and exciting way. Our partners for the last five years have paved the way for success for Real Rutland and now we are excited to work with Lyz and Greg in this new capacity.”
In addition to contracting with local graphic designer, Lyz Tomsuden and Five FireMedia, CEDRR has hired Bethany Sprague to serve as the Real Rutland Concierge Coordinator. Bethany will conduct initial outreach to interested individuals and families who have expressed interest in moving to the area.
“Hiring Bethany has allowed us to dedicate more time and effort to our Real Rutland Concierge Program which has proven to be the key ingredient to our work in attracting new individuals and families to Rutland County,” says Kim Rupe, communications and community engagement director. “Bethany is providing the necessary personal touch by welcoming new families, building their network with introductions to our concierge volunteers, and answering questions about life in our region.”
Real Rutland is currently entering its sixth year of attracting new individuals and families to Rutland County, which is intended to grow the overall population and economic vitality of the region. Since the start of the campaign in 2016, there have been over 100 new individuals who have moved to the region because of the Regional Marketing Initiative and the Real Rutland Concierge Program. The Initiative is generously supported by local municipalities, the City of Rutland, and the local business community, all of whom recognized the need to grow our population and workforce.