Perceptions of Flint

Matt Bach, Public Relations & Media Manager, Flint Area Visitor & Conventions Bureau (FACVB), gave a comprehensive overview at last week's meeting of how the FACVB is "changing the perception of Flint and Genesee County".  Matt stated that the mission of the FACVB is to bring in overnight guests to our area to support the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, conference centers) and get "heads in beds".

The FACVB has done the following (with Matt's leadership) to bring attention to the Flint/Genesee County area:

1.  Set-up Google alerts - utilizing key words such as Flint/Genesee County to find out what is being said about our area;

2.  Launched Flint, MI Facebook page - which currently has 4000 fans, plus a FACVB Facebook page and a Twitter page;

3.  Secured $100,000 in promo ads for the Buick Open and other Genesee County events from the City of Ottawa, Canada.  The City of Ottawa was running a "This Ain't Flint Campaign" which the FACVB found out about through the Google alerts; FACVB challenged the City to retract and stop the campaign which resulted in promo ads for the Genesee County area. 

4.  Email reports such as the daily "Changing Perceptions of Flint" and "College Movement" which Matt has initiated.  Sunrise Rotarians who were not at last week's meeting can sign up to receive either daily email report by contacting the FACVB.

Matt stated that he has accepted the position of Director of Communications for the Michigan Municipal League, but will continue to write the email reports until his replacement is hired.  We wish him well in his new position and thank him for the great job he has done during his short stay with the FACVB.