Vision 2010 hopes to bolster Bristol's image

Aiming to take advantage of the looming completion of the Route 72 extension and downtown revitalization, business leaders hope a new marketing push can pump up the city’s image.
“The stars are aligned for this community to do a lot,” said former Mayor John Leone, president of the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber’s Vision 2010 initiative is looking at ways to seize what its members see as a great opportunity to improve Bristol’s reputation. Leaders said the town’s tired image doesn’t capture its many good qualities.
A group of about 65 business and government officials gathered recently to identify “the very positive things that are happening” in Bristol and put their heads together to see how they could perhaps be tied together to sell the city, according to John Smith, who’s heading up the initiative.
Finding a way to tell Bristol’s story, Smith said, is a key to attracting new businesses and residents who have the potential to help Bristol get even better.
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko, who hailed the effort as “one of the best visionary meetings” he’s seen in years, said everyone agreed that a crucial first step is for people to “stop the negativity” and focus on what Bristol does well.
One idea that appears to have strong support is for the city to hire a marketing director, or a marketing consultant, who would take charge of pulling together the many different strands and present a coherent package about Bristol’s selling points.
“We want to see the city step up,” Leone said.
Smith said the city has a lot going for it, from a solid educational system to “outstanding city services.”
With a thriving Bristol Hospital, ESPN, Lake Compounce, museums and more, Bristol has more going on that even most of its residents realize, Smith said.
At the same time, Bristol remains “very affordable,” he said.
With the Route 72 extension slated for completion in a year, the downtown mall coming down and a new industrial park opening, this is the time to “tell the story” about Bristol so that it can take advantage of the opportunity, Smith said.
After the initial pulse-taking, some themes are already clear.
“Bristol really is a sport-oriented town,” Smith said.
It’s also family-oriented, Klocko added, with more cultural and entertainment options than even most residents realize.
It’s hard to avoid the city’s connection with ESPN, officials said, and perhaps there is a way to tie the sport giant and nearby Lake Compounce amusement park into any marketing campaign.
The general goal for Vision 2010, Smith said, “is to get one focus so we can market what we have here.”
“We need to send a good message,” Leone said. “It really is time and we’re going to miss an opportunity if we don’t do it.”

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com