MLREDC launch draws nice crowd and survey interest

Online survey open
to the public
through Nov. 7

    GREENVILLE — The Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation (MLREDC) has announced that the region’s branding initiative survey is open for public comment and already has had nearly 1,000 participants following an energizing launch event on Friday, Oct. 3.

    The survey, which is open until Nov. 7, is available online (bit.ly/brand-moosehead) and poses nine questions that will help the MLREDC branding committee gain insight into the community’s vision for the region’s future.
    During the initiative’s first step, a kick off on Friday, Oct. 3, more than 150 people gathered to hear from Roger Brooks, a world-renowned destination branding expert about his initial research, including his “secret shopping” experience in the Moosehead Lake region.
    “We are thrilled to have had people from around the state join us to hear from Mr. Brooks about his experiences and early recommendations and then launch us on a much broader community research process,” said Luke Muzzy, president of MLREDC. “That event really energized the community and far beyond. We are so pleased people are taking interest and sharing opinions to help us turn the region into a world-class destination.”
    The MLREDC is working with community branding and marketing consultant Roger Brooks International (RBI) on the locally-driven branding initiative, which aims to create a renewed sense of place for the Moosehead Lake Region and drive sustainable economic growth.
    Once all of the research is complete, MLREDC’s branding committee will work with RBI to assess the results and develop a branding and marketing action plan for the Moosehead Lake Region. That plan is expected to be completed and presented to the community in April 2015. In addition to the online research, there will also be a reputation analysis, marketing assessments and public input via focus groups.
    “We invite everyone who has in interest in the future of the Moosehead Lake Region to share their opinions and help steer the future of the Moosehead Lake Region,” said Muzzy. “This locally-driven branding initiative will help advance the economic prosperity and sustainability of the Moosehead Lake Region, and we are thrilled to work together on this important process.”
    The Moosehead Lake Region has historically been known for its unique character and natural resources and gets its name from its most significant water resource: Moosehead Lake. Located at the entrance to Maine’s historic North Woods, Moosehead Lake is a 75,000-acre lake peppered with more than 80 islands and surrounded by vast working forests and scenic mountain ranges. Since 1998, more than 400,000 acres of land has been permanently conserved, connecting the region to a conservation corridor of nearly two million acres of permanently conserved woods, waters and mountains running from the Canada boarder to Baxter State Park.
    In its first year of operation, MLREDC is working to establish collaborative partnerships with significant regional and statewide stakeholders. Discussions have been held with Appalachian Mountain Club, Maine Huts and Trails, Forest Society of Maine, town of Greenville, Plum Creek, Northern Forest Canoe Trail, the Nature Conservancy, the Maine Office of Tourism and others.
    To learn more about the MLREDC and its branding initiative, visit www.mooseheadlakeedc.com.