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10 ideas for participating in the "Cities Mean Business" campaign

  1. Make a State of the City address a tradition, and partner with your local chamber of commerce on the event. Municipal Association staff can help local officials put together speeches and ideas.

  2. Submit an opinion column about the progress your city or town has made in attracting business, jobs and highly skilled workers to your area.

  3. Film a short YouTube video about the positive quality of life and economic success that your city or town shares with others in your region. Link the video to your city’s website.

  4. Start a Facebook page to reach out to people in your community and let them know about the great things your hometown has to offer. Make sure to invite the Municipal Association’s Cities Mean Business page to be your friend.

  5. Invite local business leaders to a roundtable discussion about ways to improve your city’s business climate.

  6. Get involved in the green movement and work with local environmental experts and businesses to educate residents about ways to save energy, water and gas.

  7. Host a Lunch ‘n Learn with local newspaper reporters with a good meal and basic information about your city or town.

  8. After an election, engage your key influencers to make contact with new and returning House and Senate members to get ready for the legislative session.

  9. Invite key influencers to an engagement session at city hall to update them on activities in your hometown. (See page 7 of the Advocacy Guide.) Also, get ideas from them to be proactive with future issues. Association staff can provide a facilitator at no cost.

  10. Host an “If I were mayor for a day” essay contest for elementary and middle school students. See below for easy to follow instructions.
    • Contact your local elementary and middle school principals about the contest, rules, prizes and deadlines.
    • Send out a press release explaining the contest and which elementary and middle schools are participating.
    • Collect the essays before the kids go home for the holiday vacation and have a panel choose a winner as soon as school starts back in January.
    • Send Municipal Association staff the winning essay, and a committee will pick the overall statewide winner.
    • That winner and their parents will come to Hometown Legislative Action Day with their local council to be recognized with their local legislators.