Smooth Rock Falls, a small, bilingual town near Timmins, Ont., experienced a serious decline in population following the closure of the town’s main employer.  To encourage businesses and individuals to move to the community, in 2017, the innovative Town Council launched a new marketing campaign for the town – Near North, Near Perfect – and created a variety of generous financial incentives. In partnership with Impact & Main, Beacon was hired to position Smooth Rock Falls as an ideal place to live and work and to generate earned media coverage and ultimately business leads.

 

Beacon developed and executed a media relations strategy that:

• Levered a unique, compelling news hook; the availability of $500 serviced lots in town and on the golf course

• Positioned Smooth Rock Falls as a safe, bilingual, affordable community with a regional hospital, library, numerous churches and French and English schools

 

Results included:

• More than 200 earned media clips including print and digital, national, regional and community newspapers, TV and radio

• An audience reach of 29+ million people

• More than one thousand inquiries from people and businesses interested in moving to Smooth Rock Falls