Worldwide, people starting up a business or established corporations looking to relocate now have a better chance of getting a glimpse of what Iola has to offer. At least that’s what local officials are hoping after a $7,300 investment was made to put a full-page ad in an economic development magazine as well as build a new website.
The website, Why-Iola.com, was built after the city of Iola, Iola Industries Incorporated, Iola Area Chamber of Commerce, Allen County Community College and four local banks joined forces and purchased a $5,000 full-page ad in the Kansas Economic Development Guide, an annual publication distributed to industry-trade companies all across the globe.
The advertisement, which featured the same theme as the website, was a proactive approach to reaching out to companies making a move, said Judy Bringham, Iola city administrator.
“We have always answered the door and done a great job of selling ourselves. The problem is, we need to get people to our door,” she said. “This is pulling (companies) in off the streets as opposed to waiting for them to park their cars, come up to our door and ring the doorbell.”
The city contributed $2,500 for the advertisement and an additional $2,300 for the Why-Iola website development, a nominal investment considering the potential high reward.
“Just one person seeing that (advertisement) and bringing just a few jobs to town pays off in the long run,” Bringham said, adding that because the magazine is distributed by the Kansas Department of Commerce, potential investors from all over the world will see the
advertisement. “We have a much better chance when you have that kind of circulation.”
To support the advertisement, Why-Iola.com was developed. Site visitors are provided all the essential information any company would want when looking for a place to build or relocate, said John McRae, Iola Industries president. The site features testimonials from local industry officials, pertinent facts about Iola and Allen County as well as links to the primary web pages of contributing agencies.
“The thought here was ‘why would a company from Washington (D.C.) move back to the Midwest?’ The site was supposed to provide an answer for that and provoke some thought,” McRae said. “It’s an attempt to let people know, we (Iola) are here. People are deciding to come here and if you look at this website, it’ll give you an indication of why.”
Cities wanting to seriously compete for new businesses need to make themselves as “conspicuous” as possible and having a clear, concise and easy-to-use website is a major part of that, Brigham said.
“Everybody is ready for instant information. If you want to find out about Iola, you want to point and click,” she said. “You don’t want to call and have someone send you a package.”
Those wanting a copy can pick up the annual KEDG issue at City Hall.
New site aids development
