TCD Showcases the Best of Western Nebraska With Creative Marketing Initiatives

The Twin Cities Development Association (TCD) recently created a new position to support marketing and workforce development initiatives across Western Nebraska. Ria Rebman, who stepped into the role of Marketing and Workforce Coordinator, is launching several exciting projects as she promotes the region and highlights the valuable resources offered by TCD.

“I’ve been laying the groundwork for where we’re going, and a lot of good things are on the horizon,” says Rebman. “We have such a great team at TCD, and it’s exciting to promote everything we do.”

Marketing for economic development associations means communicating with multiple target audiences. Rebman will simultaneously promote Western Nebraska nationally to attract business investment while marketing TCD locally so community members can utilize its resources. Learn more about Rebman’s efforts and how they will help Western Nebraska as a whole. 

TCD Directs Its Marketing Efforts to Key Avatars 

TCD has developed target audiences to guide its promotional efforts. This allows Rebman to reach groups across Western Nebraska while supporting business attraction. Here are the six avatars she references when creating marketing content and creative materials.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs: TCD offers customized services for entrepreneurs and business owners entering expansion or succession periods. 
• Workforce seekers: Rebman is taking over the Career Connections program and wants to find people across Western Nebraska looking for work. She is also running this year’s Career Cabs event. 
• Community builders: TCD wants to reach people involved in their municipalities who can share resources with residents who need them. 
• Relocating families: TCD offers housing resources to families moving to the area or returning home.
• Site selectors: Business attraction is a large part of economic development, and TCD has clear information about the region for site selectors. 
• Housing developers: Housing is a challenge for countless communities across the United States. TCD wants to attract developers who are ready to build homes here.

Each of these target audiences has different needs and supports economic development in its own way. While a site selector can bring a major employer to the region, an entrepreneur can introduce a new industry or amenity to their community and eventually become a job creator as they expand. 

Rebman Uses Several Marketing Tactics to Reach Audiences 

TCD is taking a modern approach to reaching its target audiences across Western Nebraska and the United States. Rebman utilizes several different strategies to support her promotional efforts. Here are a few projects she is working on.

• YouTube content: TCD has published a series of videos called What is Economic Development? This helps the average resident learn what TCD does and how they can get involved. 
• In Focus photo contest: Rebman identified that there wasn’t a large photo library that could be used to promote Western Nebraska, so she debuted a photo contest to get the community involved. 
• Business Spotlights: Rebman plans to launch business spotlights that feature different companies in video and podcast form.

Rebman is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence in her work. She says it's “like having a thousand assistants” to pick up extra tasks and streamline workflows. AI can help scale her marketing efforts so TCD can have a bigger impact and reach more people.  

Western Nebraska is an Easy Community to Promote

When you talk to Rebman about her marketing strategies and target audiences, her passion for the region shines through. She is originally from Guernsey (just over the border in Wyoming) and has spent the past few years exploring various towns and cities in Western Nebraska. She has lived in Morrill for six years and is actively involved in the Panhandle Business & Professional Women and Leadership Scottsbluff.

So far, she has nothing but good things to say about working with TCD.

“We have such a great team here, and I would hate for that to be a secret,” says Rebman. “Our marketing efforts can showcase everything we do and all the different groups of people we support.”  

Her recommendation for anyone new to Western Nebraska is to enjoy one of its sunsets.

“The people and the sunsets are the two best things about living here,” says Rebman. “Because Nebraska is naturally flat, the sun takes forever to go down. The mountains don’t hide it.”

As she feels increasingly comfortable in her role, Rebman will continue to showcase Western Nebraska as a region that is poised for growth and ready to embrace innovation. She applies these values to her marketing efforts and does her best to help the residents and entrepreneurs across the panhandle thrive. 

Learn More About TCD and How to Get Involved

Everyone across Western Nebraska is affected by economic development and has the power to shape it. Learn more about TCD’s efforts to grow the region and how you can get involved. TCD succeeds because of its members, who offer insights, photos, and time to this organization. You can shape the future of the Nebraska panhandle. Work with TCD today.