A new radio commercial targeting business owners and developers and touting Brookfield’s “prime redevelopment parcels,” “TIF incentives,” “architectural diversity” and more began airing on the WBBM-AM on Sept. 11, two days after the Brookfield village board gave the go ahead to purchase the ad spots.
“Is your business being met with more complex process than partnership?” the ad begins. “Consider the village of Brookfield.”
The village board approved spending $28,100 to air the 30-second commercial 140 times between Sept. 11 and Oct. 10. Assistant Village Manager Keith Sbiral said the commercial will air once during the noon business hour on the radio station and one or two times during the morning and evening rush hours. The commercial will also air periodically on weekends as well, he said.
“We wanted to send the message that Brookfield is serious about its TIF districts and economic development efforts,” said Sbiral. “We wanted to start to put Brookfield on the radar with respect to something other than the zoo.”
The radio ads are part of a new economic development strategy the village has begun to implement. The ads will run in preparation for a developer breakfast scheduled for Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.
While the ads don’t mention the breakfast, the village has invited developers to the event through a mailing sent Sept. 13.
“We’ve reached out to a list of folks we’ve worked with in the past or who have done projects [in places] similar to Brookfield,” said Sbiral.
A more complete developer packet will be sent as a follow up on Sept. 23, according to Sbiral.
“We want to create a situation where we at least have a yearly or twice yearly event to introduce developers to town who may not have thought of Brookfield,” Sbiral said.
Sbiral said he expects to land a dozen or so developers for the breakfast, which will feature brief presentations by elected officials and village staff and a question-and-answer session. Afterward, if developers choose, they can accompany officials on a guided tour of the business districts.
The purpose is not just to attract new development, said Sbiral, but also to generate interest in existing buildings available for lease that could be better utilized.
The village’s website also now prominently features a link to a developer page, which is just in its beginning stages.
Developers interested in attending the Oct. 10 event are being asked to RSVP to Sbiral at 708-485-1115. More information will be available soon on the village’s website.
