If you have ever heard a member of our team use the word “FIT” we aren’t pushing you to go to the gym and sweat – we’re referring to a program we offer that focuses on the well-being and health of your community. FIT stands for First Impressions Tour; a service we offer that allows you to see your community through the eyes of an outsider.
A FIT provides you with an unbiased view of your community’s strengths and weaknesses by conducting an in-depth assessment of your community’s online presence, physical, social, and economic infrastructures. The information we gather is congregated into an easily digestible booklet that can be shared among the leaders in your community. The culmination of our work are “Next Steps” (suggestions that provide general direction for future community development efforts) identified by our team. If desired, a presentation of the findings can be delivered to community leaders.
We have previously completed First Impressions Tours in both Mulberry (our pilot FIT) and Greenwood (who we are now working with to develop a Business Retention & Expansion Program). Our most recent FIT was completed in Clarksville. During our presentation to community leaders we summarized our assessment of the city and delivered our suggested “Next Steps” to them. A summary of our findings is as follows:
Clarksville is a city that has experienced enormous growth in the last 15 years. This growth has left the town with great promise and potential opportunities to capabilities on.
The commercial and industrial climate in Clarksville is very strong when compared to cities of similar size. Clarksville has a well-established manufacturing base and is home to a large distribution center. This level of current industry, combined with Clarksville’s position along I-40 and Highway 64 positions the city for strong future economic growth. Clarksville’s small businesses have equally benefited from the city’s position along major traffic corridors. The city is filled with numerous, diverse small businesses, some of which have been in operation for over three generations.
The downtown area of Clarksville has a strong historic feel, and many local small businesses. Many of the city’s residential areas also benefit from historic architecture, and housing in Clarksville is affordable and the city has a diverse set of residential areas whether an individual is looking to rent or buy.
Clarksville is home to a strong school district and one of the best private regional colleges in the South. Capitalizing upon these assets could be central goal for the city in the near future.
During our time in Clarksville, our team identified that the first impression that Clarksville gives a visitor is one of two cities. The development directly around the interstate is very strong from a commercial perspective, but there is opportunity to connect that development with the residential charm and downtown feel of the city’s core business district. Working to establish a consistent identity that balances Clarksville’s economic promise, with its small town charm, and its proximity to some of the best outdoor recreation in Arkansas will be a worthy challenge for community leaders in the years to come.
Our presentation and the full assessment went into much greater detail, but we won’t bore you with specifics – we just wanted to give you a general idea of what a First Impressions Tour entails.
The FIT was such a success, Clarksville community leaders were happy to share their thoughts with us. Travis Stephens, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of the Clarksville-Johnson County Regional Chamber of Commerce, stated, “The First Impressions Tour was a highly effective tool in helping our citizens discover how to better market their community. It allows residents the opportunity to walk in the shoes of a visitor and to understand how to enhance and really maximize an outsider’s overall experience while visiting their community.”
Want to know what first impression your community makes to an outsider? If so, a First Impressions Tour might be the right “FIT” (yes – we just did that) for you! If you are interested in learning more about a First Impressions Tour go here or if you want to request a tour in your community go here.
