NILES Plan would promote benefits for businesses

The literature would be sent to 5,000 businesses within a 60-mile radius.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Council is expected to consider appropriating $9,000 for the creation of literature promoting the city to area businesses.
The city's Community Improvement Corporation, which came up with the idea, is pitching in $1,300, and the Niles office of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce will pay $1,000.
The cost doesn't include mailing, which will be done next year.
"The project is designed to promote Niles and attract surrounding businesses to relocate to Niles," Matthew Blair, CIC president, said at a finance committee meeting Wednesday.
"There are 5,000 potential businesses we could contact and discuss the benefits of our electric and water rates."
Here's the plan: The idea is to mail a folder promoting the city to businesses with 10 or more employees within a 60-mile radius. The folders would include a card the business could return if interested in receiving more information.
A 12-page booklet with detailed information about the city and its offerings would be mailed to those that respond. Each mailing would cost about $4,000, but council isn't being asked for that money in the legislation expected at next week's council meeting.
"Look at how successful the city has been in attracting businesses in the last few years without promoting it, just by word-of-mouth" Blair said. "This is a way of taking it and making it professional."
The literature would include information about the city as well as the chamber, schools and surrounding attractions such as the McKinley Memorial and Cafaro Field.
CIC also hopes to develop a professional Web site as part of the promotional plan.