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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFL Today ArticleCape Canaveral works E . 'tself on rebranding 1 Cape Canaveral officials are asking residents to help develop a plan to rebrand the city. People walk on the beach near Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. 11HU I U�l b Y k-KAIU Officials will seek input from residents, businesses on ways to promote city By R. Norman Moody FLORIDATODAY CAPE CANAVERAL -- This communi- ty at the gateway to Port Canaveral — one of the world's busiest cruise ports — wants to define and distinguish it- self from other Florida beachside towns. Cape Canaveral already is one of the most recognizable names on earth, thanks to its connection to the space program. But many people outside of Central Florida are probably unsure exactly what Cape Canaveral actually is. Is it a rocket base? A geographic feature? A city? Actually, it is all three. But officials want to tell the world more about the seaside community of 10,000 and what it has to offer. As the city works to become a wal- kable, bikeable residential community, it also wants to promote itself to attract visitors and economic development. The city has hired Prismatic, an Or- lando advertising agency to help it cre- ate a branding that will draw attention to the city. "It starts with an idea of how do we See REBRAND, Page 2A Rebrand' ........... Continued from Page 1A package ourselves," said Todd Morley, the city's community and economic development director. "It's making our city resum6 to the world. This is one phase of our multi -pronged economic development master plan." The city's effort, which is costing $30,000, also wants- feedback from residents and busi- ness owners, asking: What defines Cape Ca- naveral and how should the city to promote it- self? Prismatic will hold a public workshop to get residents' and business owners' ideas. That gathering will be held Feb. 3 at Florida Beer Company brewery. In addition to the workshop, residents have already been asked to fill out an online sur- vey that asks questions such as: When you de- scribe Cape Canaveral to a friend, what do you say? What makes you most proud of Cape Ca- naveral? There are many things that Noah Wof- ford likes about his new- ly adopted city, includ- ing the convenience to nearby shopping, prox- imity to the port and the beach. He proudly tells friends about it. "I would tell them its a friendly place," said Wofford, 58, who moved from Merritt Island to Cape Canaveral in De- cember. "People talk to each other." Lorene Ward, too, said she would tell oth- ers that neighbors are very friendly. ,,I would tell them I love living here," said Ward, a retiree who LW 0 2015 FLORIDA TODAY Nim Aa mr) �tns; What:Community branding workshop )) When: Tuesday, 3 6 - 8 p.m. Where: FloridaBleo Company, 200 Imperial Blvd., Cape Canaveral )i For more info: Visit MyCapeCan.com to reserve a spot. moved from Texas to Cape Canaveral about eight years ago. "The parks are wonderful." Morley said resi- dents'and business own- ers' input is important to the process. "The bottom line is that it has to resonate as genuine," Morley said. "If the residents say we just want to be a sleepy little beach town, that's what's going to resonate. We want to find out what residents and business- es want." Council member Buzz Petsos said fulfill- ing the wishes of a resi- dential community in making the city more walkable and promoting economic development all works for the benefit of residents. "It fits in by strength- ening the entire commu- nity," he said. Petsos said he wants to see the rebranding help to promote bring- ing in businesses that will help to change and improve the looks of the State Road AlA corridor through the city. "It's to create larger awareness of the city and what it has to offer on an economic side to get businesses to come," he said. Contact Moody at 321-242-3651 or nmoody@floridatoday.com Follow on Twitter @RNorman- Moody NEWSPAPER DELIVERY & CLISTI CALL TOLL FREE (877) 424-0156 HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m,; Sat. & S