Looks like a few Blandin Broadband Communities have banded together to create some social media collateral to help promote the Upper Minnesota Valley Region. Communities include Big Stone Chippewa Lac qui Parle Swift and Yellow Medicine Counties – and really it goes back as far as UMVRDC joining the BBC precursor, the MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) initiative. They have worked together on some branding, a new logo and the following video.

They’ve also created a Facebook Page and an Instagram account to showcase the beauty of their region. Working together is a great way to harness their existing individual connections to create a viral opportunity. Also is seems like if someone has a connection to one part of Western Minnesota, they are ripe for appreciating the rest of the region.

Jacki Anderson from the UMVRDC talks a little bit about the initiative…

It’s been fantastic to pull the economic development and chamber professionals around something so positive for the region! This work is part of long-term effort to reverse negative rural narratives and stereotypes by sharing stories and imagery representing our region. Technology is driver in making all of this happen, we are able to expand our reach when we band together. The regional branding is meant to complement and not compete with local identities and marketing so it really just enhances local work by adding new tools in the toolboxes and putting our region “on the map” in a positive way.