Space Coast Economic Development Commission and Office of Tourism Launch ‘Mission Space Coast’

By  //  September 19, 2022

BUSINESS & TOURISM SPOTLIGHT

The EDC of Florida’s Space Coast is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high-tech companies. The Space Coast Office of Tourism is responsible for managing the allocation of the Tourist Development Tax and conducts the day-to-day operations of promotion and advertising, administering grant programs, visitor information services, and more with the input and guidance of the Tourist Development Council and appointed committees. (EDC image)

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and Brevard County Office of Tourism has launched the official community branding initiative ‘Mission Space Coast’ as the organizations partner to propel business, talent and tourism attraction, and retention.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Across the nation, competition is intensifying among communities as they battle to attract and retain businesses, skilled talent, and tourists alike. This fierce competition is leading to an increasing number of regions across the world recognizing the importance of a collective community brand.

These brands strengthen standings in the national and global marketplace as they capture the essence a community and tell a story through a unified voice.

Understanding the importance of a strong community brand, The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC), in partnership with the Space Coast Office of Tourism (TDO), launched an official initiative to conceptualize a unified community brand for Florida’s Space Coast.

First announced at the EDC’s Annual Meeting in February 2022, this month work is officially underway as the two organizations join together for this initiative, which was officially deemed, Mission Space Coast: One Voice-One Brand.

Overseeing this effort is the EDC’s Mission Space Coast Reporting Board, chaired by Brett Esrock, Sr. VP, CEO Hospital Division, Health First. “With Mission Space Coast, we have to ask ourselves how do we create a unified brand where people recognize it and think – that’s who they are on the Space Coast. They launch rockets; they have a great lifestyle; they’re on the beach; they live and commune with nature very effectively,” said Esrock. “This is more than a logo, more than a tagline, more than a really unique saying. This is the essence of the community.”  (Health First Image)

To tackle this first-ever unified brand for the Space Coast, the organizations will unite representation along the 72-mile-long region.

Over the next several months, business leaders and residents on the Space Coast will work together through the Mission Space Coast process, which starts with a three-step discovery phase to include community of choice conversations, focus groups, and a broad survey to define the essence of the Space Coast.

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Overseeing this effort is the EDC’s Mission Space Coast Reporting Board, chaired by Brett Esrock, Sr. VP, CEO Hospital Division, Health First.

“With Mission Space Coast, we have to ask ourselves how do we create a unified brand where people recognize it and think – that’s who they are on the Space Coast. They launch rockets; they have a great lifestyle; they’re on the beach; they live and commune with nature very effectively,” said Esrock.

“This is more than a logo, more than a tagline, more than a really unique saying. This is the essence of the community.”

“I’m so excited about the adventure that’s about to take place as our community comes together for the first time to see where we are, where we wanna be and what makes us so unique,” said Lynda Weatherman, President and CEO of the EDC.

Community brands can be developed organically, being left to chance. Examples of this, such as “I Love New York” or “Keep Austin Weird” have resonated for generations. Other brands were driven by an intentional community effort, such as “Unbelievably Real,” the newly announced brand from Orlando, and soon to come, the new brand for Florida’s Space Coast.

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“I’m so excited about the adventure that’s about to take place as our community comes together for the first time to see where we are, where we wanna be and what makes us so unique,” said Lynda Weatherman, President and CEO of the EDC.

“As we continue to see growth and excitement on the Space Coast from years of successful industry diversification while watching our local space industry see more activity than ever before, we owe it to ourselves to make this mark for our community and define our unified brand before somebody else does it for us.”

“It’s the perfect combination to bring the EDC and Office of Tourism together because they’re two sides of the same coin,” said Peter Cranis, Executive Director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism.

“It’s the perfect combination to bring the EDC and Office of Tourism together because they’re two sides of the same coin,” said Peter Cranis, Executive Director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism.

“When people see our advertising, which we place all over the country, all over the world, they’ll make that connection. And then when they come to visit, they could see the great opportunity that exists here and make the Space Coast home.”

The Space Coast’s unified brand will be more than a slogan or graphic, this brand will be something to resonate with the constituents of the community because after all…they defined it.

To keep up with the Mission Space Coast, follow the EDC on social media, or stay tuned for more on SpaceCoastEDC.org

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