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Chamber outlines national PR and branding push to boost talent attraction and business tourism
Summary
The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC told council members its LART/LARP‑funded Source Colorado Springs program will prioritize national media outreach, a media hub and a multi‑stakeholder branding effort to attract business conferences, talent and investment.
The Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation updated council on a mid‑year LART/LARP contract and a new program called Source Colorado Springs aimed at raising the Pikes Peak region’s national profile.
What the Chamber presented: Danny (last name not provided) said the Source Colorado Springs effort will focus on national media outreach, creating a media asset hub for journalists, and a branding process that convenes government, business and higher‑education stakeholders to craft unified external messaging. The presentation described the need to broaden the city’s external image beyond existing “Olympic City USA” elements to better reach business audiences.
Why it matters: Chamber staff said national press placements tied to high‑profile events can influence business decisions about relocation and conferences. As an example, staff highlighted recent placements tied to the U.S. Senior Open golf tournament and attention around U.S. Space Command activity. “This is an opportunity where all eyes are on Colorado Springs,” the presenter said, describing a recent placement in a national newsletter that quoted the mayor and Sen. Hickenlooper.
Business tourism and conferences: The Chamber said it will pursue conferences in targeted sectors — aerospace and defense, cybersecurity and other verticals — and build a media hub of assets (video, photos) to make pitching easier. The presentation noted outreach to metros for talent attraction ad buys and an intent to work with a professional agency on a 3‑ to 5‑month brand‑development process.
Council questions and response: Council members asked whether the rebranding has already produced a clear external message or whether the city still needs to develop one. The presenter said the region’s strengths are known, but a professional agency will help convert those strengths into external messaging. Several council members emphasized preserving Colorado Springs’s historical and military identity while refining messaging for business audiences.
Ending: Council members generally supported the high‑level approach and emphasized that any branding should both reflect the city’s heritage and help attract conferences and talent. The Chamber said it will continue media outreach and provide updates to council.
