GROW/EDC Defines Direction – Merge Identities

Local Organization Reveals New Brand Identity

MILL CITY, ORE. 18 JUNE 2012 — GROW/EDC is the new name for the organization formerly known as the North Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation (NSCEDC), which has served the North Santiam communities of Lyons through Idanha since 1996. The NSCEDC’s flagship program GROW North Santiam became the focal point of the organization’s efforts four years ago and through its evolution, the organizational leadership decided it was time for a new identity. This identity includes a renewed vision, an updated job description and staff title, a newly designed logo package and a new tagline, “leveraging grassroots resources, helping businesses grow.”

“We had a desire to merge the identity of our flagship program that focuses on helping local entrepreneurs with the longstanding economic development work that the NSCEDC had been doing in the community for more than 16 years,” says Allison McKenzie, whose new title is Executive Director and Entrepreneurial Coach. “We re-branded since our focus for the last several years has been helping businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations and communities in a much wider area.”

Part of this re-branding included redefining the geographic territory served by this organization. In the former model, the NSCEDC served Lyons through Idanha, while its program GROW North Santiam served a larger area encompassing Aumsville through Idanha. Now, GROW/EDC is not so geographically specific and the entire organization covers the larger region served by its flagship program. “We’re able to be more inclusive,” says McKenzie. “We are even looking at expanding some services into other rural Marion and Linn County communities.”

The GROW/EDC chairperson who has facilitated this change is John McGinn of All Pro Web Works. Board members include Vice Chair Sue Nichols with Travel Salem, Corporate Secretary Nancy Hendricks of Fresh to You Produce & Garden Center, Sandra Rupert of Gates Post Office and Mill City Mayor Tim Kirsch.

The volunteer marketing group that brainstormed on this re-branding included Nicole Miller of Word’s Out PR, Sharlene Trexler of Trexler Farm, Madeleine Gere with the Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, McGinn and Nichols. The graphic designer behind the new logo is Kim Minten of Minten Graphics in Sublimity.

The board of directors, along with the GROW resource board, held visioning sessions in which they determined that their “…goal is to be recognized as a national leader in grassroots business development,” says McGinn. “We currently offer free one-on-one consulting, as well as educational opportunities for entrepreneurs in a collaborative setting. Looking forward, we want to continue focusing our efforts on helping entrepreneurs be more effective in their businesses, including customer service and workforce development.”

GROW has witnessed more than 70 businesses open since the program started in the fall of 2008. GROW/EDC leadership is planning on holding a four-year birthday party for GROW in late fall of 2012. For more information, contact Allison McKenzie at 503.871.5188 or visit www.growsantiam.org.

About GROW/EDC

GROW/EDC is a local non-profit organization committed to leveraging grassroots resources and helping businesses grow in the string of small towns east of Salem, from Aumsville to Idanha. Formerly known as the North Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation, GROW offers free, confidential, one-on-one business coaching to any entrepreneur in the area who wants to open, expand or improve a business.