For years economic developers have been advised (at least by me) that hearing about announcements of new projects is not nearly as interesting as hearing about what happened next. “After the Announcement” caught my eye back in January and again in March in the Tennessee Department of EDC’s Weekly Roundup newsletter. The articles featured follow-ups on companies’ experiences executing on their plans to locate or expand in Tennessee.
Granted, when pieces like this are published all of the challenges may not survive the final edits, but even a feel-good piece is instructive and comforting to people who are about to take big risks if they choose to invest in your state or your community.
I’m keeping my eyes open for the next installment, but whether it comes in the newsletter or not, it’s good practice to gather these stories and be ready to show the true success that doesn’t happen until long after the announcement.