Campaign Touts Rutherford’s Top-Ranked Schools
Published Jun 12, 2009
Destination Rutherford, a public-private economic development initiative of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, has launched the We Know campaign to highlight the achievements of the county’s schools and higher education institutions.
Ask any relocation expert what ranks highest among companies’ criteria for a new site, and the quality of public education inevitably nears the top of the list.
Yet business and public officials found that companies considering a move to Rutherford County had no idea it was home to the No. 1 English and math elementary school in the state, one of the largest universities in the Southeast and a K-12 public school system that routinely convinces residents working outside the county to buy homes in Rutherford and commute.
Destination Rutherford, a public-private economic development initiative of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, has launched the We Know campaign to make sure the schools are no longer a best-kept secret.
“When we were sitting down with companies interested in relocating, they spent a considerable amount of time asking us about our education system,” says Rob Lyons, Murfreesboro city manager.
“We knew the schools’ quality was outstanding, but since they were out of state, they didn’t know much about that. We picked up on those signals and realized we could do a lot more to get that word out.”
The chamber has been a major backer of business-education alliances. Its Business Education Partnership program promotes collaborations between businesses and schools through grants, programs and services such as the BC3 Science Academy, Summer Business Camp and job shadowing.
The We Know marketing campaign touts the educational and extracurricular strengths of the county’s public schools and Middle Tennessee State University – the largest undergraduate university in Tennessee – to corporate relocation experts and companies exploring relocation.
Through an e-newsletter, DVD, Facebook page, printed materials and Web site (www.rutherfordeducation.com), We Know details local educational achievements.
Among them: six middle schools in Rutherford County rank in the state’s Top 50; the Discovery School at Reeves Rogers is ranked No. 1 statewide in math and English proficiency; and Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Education draws the best and the brightest, who often stay in the community to teach.
Community-based programs such as Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring and CSI: Middle Tennessee State University’s Forensic Science Camp are highlighted, as is MTSU’s partnership with local schools.
The goal of the campaign is to add education to the long list of known community strengths – quality of life, a business friendly environment and proximity to urban amenities among them – that are important to businesses considering relocation, says Holly Sears Weber, vice president economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
“They’re looking at relocating employees, and those employees’ top concern is education for their children,” Weber says. “They also want to make sure they have an educated and sustainable workforce 10 and 20 years down the road.”
Story by Anita Wadhwani
Photo by Antony Boshier
Current Weather Conditions In Murfreesboro, TN (37133)
Rain, and 55 ° F. For more details?
Click here...
