Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC

Enhancing Visibility for Growing Cities and Regions

Grounded by an abundance of aerospace, cyberspace and defense resources, a 38% bachelor’s degree achievement rate, and a growing population of close to half-a-million, Colorado Springs has become one of the nation’s most desirable cities to live, work and conduct business in the state of Colorado and the U.S..

Services Marketing Strategy Website Services Digital Marketing Media Buying

The Challenge

In 2016, Colorado Springs was witnessing spectacular economic development success after a decade-long slump in job creation and workforce development strategies. Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (CSCEDC) and DCI began a partnership to raise the profile of Colorado Springs as a business-friendly city for executives, site selection consultants and potential talent within the state and at the national level. While several initiatives in the city promised to increase job training, improve infrastructure, and boost collaboration among businesses, perception and engagement with the city remained low.

The Solution

CSCEDC required a comprehensive strategy to effectively engage with new businesses, existing businesses and talent — one that would equip regional leaders and stakeholders with a unified set of key messages and business resources to elevate Colorado Springs’ unique advantages and incentives. Driven by research, DCI developed and executed a marketing strategy, including a best-in-class website, the launch of a digital advertising campaign, expanded media relations efforts, blog content and SSC newsletters.

The Results

Powerhouse Placements

DCI initiatives helped CSCEDC secure over 1.1 billion media impressions via more than 115 unique story placements in most wanted broadcast, print and online outlets such as Inc., MarketWatch, Fortune and TechRepublic.
Strategic Website Optimization

Between 2016 and 2023, DCI contributed to over 125 blogs for the CSCEDC website to drive traffic, improve SEO and promote key messaging. In 2021 alone, 24 published blogs and 27 secured articles received more than 1.5 billion impressions from business owners and site selectors.
A Digital Transformation

Since 2018, when DCI expanded its digital advertising campaign, web traffic has seen an increase of 170%.

Located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains and an hour from the Denver Metro, Colorado Springs is also home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. DCI secured a Colorado Springs placement in Smithsonian Magazine after the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum opened in the city in 2020. The article gained over 2.7 million impressions, broadening Colorado Springs’ reputation as a city that champions accessible design and a promising site for business development.

With a median age of 34 and one of the highest shares of millennials in the U.S., DCI managed to secure a Colorado Springs placement with Livability.com highlighting the city’s top-notch outdoor recreation, thriving arts & culture scene and immense job opportunity. The article garnered more than 250,000 unique impressions for the economic development organization.