Marquette Downtown District Identity Enhancement Project

Marquette, MI – The Marquette DDA Board of Directors has retained the national firm Arnett Muldrow & Associates to conduct a branding and marketing initiative for its downtown district. Marquette’s downtown has expanded beyond the “historic core” and therefore includes differing areas with varied characteristics, opportunities, and needs. The intent of the effort is to create an identity/marketing brand and establish an overreaching strategy to create a cohesive downtown experience. The outcome will market Marquette’s downtown district to both visitors and locals, support local businesses, and recruit investment and businesses.

The kick-off and resource visit will begin on Tuesday, June 19 with a series of round-table meetings with various stakeholders. The intensive process is designed to immerse the project team in the district and conduct a comprehensive assessment. In addition, the consultant team will meet with the North Third Business Community on June 19 at 6 p.m. and the Core Downtown Business Community on June 20 at 8 a.m. A public session is scheduled for June 19 at 6 p.m. All meetings will be held at the Marquette Commons, 112 S. Third Street.

An on-line survey will also be conducted to gauge residents, visitors, and business owners’ perspectives of the downtown, its unique areas, challenges, and opportunities.

The project team will return at a later determined date to conduct community workshops based on their earlier assessment. The workshops will include a series of focus groups and a public presentation of the draft brand and marketing strategy. A final visit will provide recommendations based on feedback received.

Arnett Muldrow is a community branding and urban planning firm specializing in marketing and branding communities in the context of creating economic vitality. The company provides city planning, branding, retail market research, and economic development services to small to mid-size communities and downtown organizations across the country. The firm has worked with over 450 communities in 30 states.