Cortland kicks off marketing and growth strategy

Staff report

CORTLAND

The city and its marketing partner, Rubenstein Associates of Liberty, presented a marketing strategy Thursday to Cortland-area businesses aimed at attracting new businesses and families.

The city hired the company for $2,500 to develop the strategy, which will be in two phases — marketing Cort-land to local and regional business interests and then to market the community regionally and nationally.

The amount of marketing that will be done will be determined by the response of the business community, Mayor Curt Moll said. The business community will be asked to contribute financially to the project, and the city also may contribute additional funds, Moll said.

The campaign will identify companies in an expansion mode or ones considering relocation, according to a Rubenstein Associates news release.

“In terms of defining Cort-land as a community ‘right in the middle of everything,’ we’re emphasizing the fact that we’re within an hour or two of America’s most progressive cities, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and all they have to offer,” said Jennifer Campbell of Rubenstein Associates.

“We’re not an island,” Moll said. “We’re part of a unique geographic and demographic area that’s been cited as a top-10 market to start and operate a business.”

In the news release, Moll said: “As of today, we are ‘Cortland ... Ohio’s hometown, right in the middle of everything and one of the best places in America to raise a business and family.” The kickoff event was at the Lake Vista retirement community clubhouse.