C Y R A N O
Writing and editorial services for business, nonprofits, and government
Imagine a place where “busines as usual”
takes on a whole new meaning
The situation: The Port of Klickitat is located in the heart of the Columbia Gorge, an easy hour east of Portland. With plenty of land ready for development and very reasonable sale and lease prices, it’s in a good position to help reinvent the region as a center for dynamic new business activity.
The challenge: Klickitat County lies just outside the favored I-5 corridor and is therefore at a disadvantage in recruiting companies to relocate to its major business development sites. The Port commissioned Cyrano to develop a branding strategy and marketing materials that would help it compete against sites closer to Portland.
The strategy: Turn a perceived negative into a positive by positioning Klickitat County as a place where business as usual takes on a whole new meaning. Don’t apologize for the location; celebrate it. Show how an attractive business climate combined with the pleasures of life in the Gorge can turn a weekend escape plan into a unique 24/7 experience. The themeline we devised, “Good for Business, Good for Life,” is now used on many Port materials. View or download here.
“Every weekend, thousands drive out to enjoy its dramatic scenery. They hike its trails, fish its streams, feast on its bounty, warm to its sun. Some catch the famous wind and speed along in a rush of color. Then, on Sunday night, they pack up and return home, awaiting the next chance to escape.
But for a growing number of others, these wonders are a part of everyday life. They’ve discovered a secret: The Columbia River Gorge, so close to city and so close to nature, is an ideal place to live and work.
The Port of Klickitat, strategically positioned an easy hour east of Portland, is helping reinvent this region as a center for dynamic new business activity. The Port offers the benefits of plentiful land ready for development, at sale and lease prices far below those in the I-5 corridor a stone’s throw away.”
CYRANO Communications