CLYDE – The village should be promoted as the “most affordable small community in the region,” marketing strategist Corey Brewis told Clyde council during their regular meeting on Sept. 9.
The presentation was part of Clyde’s Marketing and Rebranding Vision and Brand Development Strategy to encourage growth and improve the community for future generations. The $20,000 rebranding initiative is included in the village’s 2024 operating budget.
“It gives us a potential road map where we want to go,” said Clyde Mayor Charis Aguirre.
Clyde has a significant advantage when it comes to competitive housing prices and operating a business. This is what the village should capitalize on through policies and promotion of housing choices, said Brewis.
He added that given the limited residential space, the trend for people to work from home, and the low cost of doing business in Clyde, the village should encourage home-based commercial opportunities and target people who want to work from home. The village could encourage niche experiences such as speciality retail, dining and craft services.
Clyde’s industrial development strategy should prioritize local agricultural services such as vertical farming and green houses. In addition, the main street needs to be beautified and green spaces created for community gathering places, such as walking trails. To its benefit, Clyde has big vacant undeveloped lots.
Challenges for Clyde include the availability of commercial and industrial land. To address this, the village could develop partnerships with key developers for leasable land purchase, said Brewis.
Council accepted the presentation as information and will discuss it further at their upcoming policy and priorities meeting.
