GRO Focus on Outreach

The primary focus of GRO leaders is to do great community work. Sometimes, however, we are so busy doing the work that we forget to share the stories of our wins.

Within each community, dwell students, professionals and other motivated citizens that want to see their town thrive. It is our responsibility as GRO leaders to provide opportunities for these citizens to connect their expertise with the community's needs.

A strong community outreach strategy is an essential part of recruiting volunteers to participate in the GRO program and sustain the efforts.

Developing a community video is a great way to get people informed about GRO and show them how they can get involved. Check out the most recent video from Eldon.

The GRO Stories webpage also serves as a library of resources, such as the video recordings from the housing-related discussions convened by GRO.

Have a success story you want to share from your GRO community? Send it our way! We will help you get it published on the GRO website.

Simple ways to get started.

There are numerous ways you can ask your community to get involved with the GRO program.  We have these ideas listed on every community's "Get Involved" webpage.  Got another idea?  Send it our way!

• Nothing beats good personal storytelling. Share the work that is going on in your community with friends, neighbors and alumni who may have left the community.
• Create volunteer opportunities and upcoming events on the GRO Nucleus Website.
• Volunteer on a project.
• Your community can use your help! Check your local GRO website for a list of current projects and a description of what knowledge and resources are needed to keep the projects moving forward. 
• Are we missing a project? Help lead a project that you think is critical.
• On your local GRO website you can find the leadership team and current projects and initiatives. If you think there is something else the community should be working on and you have the time to lead a project, get in touch with your local GRO leaders to talk about how to become involved.
• Not quite ready to commit time? Join us and share the GRO learnings.
• Share this newsletter
• Join us for periodic community update conversations
• Nominate a business to be featured in the GRO Newsletter
• Submit photos and stories to showcase your community

Sharing and Learning Together: GRO Cross-Community Conversations

GRO Leaders will be meeting on a regular basis to share ideas and best practices on how to raise community awareness and engagement for GRO efforts. Creating strong community engagement will help ensure the long term sustainability of the collective GRO efforts.

January 19: Join us to discuss how we can better engage local communities

Need some supporting resources?

GRO leaders can always reference the GRO Nucleus Toolchest for a repository of  materials, including:

• Tips on how to conduct community outreach
• GRO marketing graphics for your use 
• Outline on how to build the community outreach video
• Document outlining how to utilize the Nucleus platform

What's Ahead

• January 12 (2-3:30pm CST) - Cross Community Discussion: Affordable Housing Discussion #4
• January 14 (9-10am CST) - Cross Community Discussion: Project RISE 
• January 19 (9-10am CST) - Cross Community Discussion: Community Outreach
• January 21 (12-1pm CST) - Business Speaker Series: Community Engagement
• January 26 (9-10am CST) - Cross Community Discussion: Economic Development 
• February 2 (9-10am CST) - Cross Community Discussion: Chamber Consortium

Business911 Speaker Series: 2021 Kick-Off Event

More about Business911 →

Contact:
GRO Support Team at Innovation Economy Partners 

[email protected]