What is branding?

In agricultural areas, such as Ritzville, the term branding usually gets a nod of understanding that you are talking about cows. Ranchers are certainly approaching the branding season for this area.

Branding in this case is entirely different.

Branding is a marketing strategy that creates a unique name and image, including a color palette, logo and other promotional items.

The city is coordinating with the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce and the Adams County Development Council (ACDC) to bring Arnett Muldrow and Associates here April 26, 27 and 28 to help Ritzville establish a brand to be used by businesses and organizations to promote our history, quality of home, lifestyle, culture and diversity.

This is a rare opportunity to be a part of making this community more viable and support all our businesses. Everyone involved is excited about bringing this process to Ritzville.

An agricultural roundtable will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, at the WSU extension building, followed by a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

Thursday will include one-hour roundtable discussions by business, leadership, youth and quality of life beginning at 8 a.m. at the WSU Extension Office downtown.

This project will move the community in a direction of standardizing efforts by various groups and businesses to create an image that can be marketed in all areas of promotion for the city.

I encourage you to participate and please plan to attend the public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the WAWG building at 109 East First Avenue.