Anthem expands marketing effort

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 6/29/2011

Anthem’s economic development and marketing committee made a report at the June 22 Anthem Community Council meeting going over its newest efforts to bring people to the community.
The presentation included going over the design for a new brochure, featuring the community’s various amenities, as well as a map, which they plan to put on display in racks at airports, visitors centers, hotels and car rental businesses.
Additionally a more detailed map including the hiking trails in the area and all of
the streets is being designed for local residents.
Communications Director Jennifer Solomon also gave council and those in attendance a look at the new website, experienceanthem.com. Unlike onlineatanthem.com, which is geared toward providing current residents with news about what is happening in the community, the new site has headings of: shop, dine, stay, play, about and events, giving potential new residents a look at the community’s amenities. After viewing the presentation on the website the council requested that the area’s religious organizations be added to the site as well as an aerial view of Anthem. Another new marketing avenue for the community will be the billboard next to Boulder Creek High School that is in view for I-17 motorists. Anthem will now share the board with Pulte, which has previously owned the advertising space exclusively. The plan is to advertise upcoming events in Anthem.
In other news from the meeting the Council approved the expenditure of $31,000
to replace 22,000 square feet of sod on the community park’s soccer fields.
In making his recommendation to the board Neal Shearer, the Community Operations Officer, said, “The sports fields here in Anthem are a point of pride. They are among the finest in the Phoenix area. Part of the challenge, especially with the soccer fields, is that through soccer leagues, football, and lacrosse we’ve really had an increase in use in recent years. We’ve reached the point where we need to do some emergency sod replacement in order to have the fields in shape for later this summer.”
The landscape maintenance contract budget had accrued a savings of approximately $120,000 through May, allowing for the $31,000 expenditure.
The board approved the measure unanimously.
The latest update on the Anthem Veterans Memorial was presented from Ron Tucker. The $191,000 project, which is scheduled for completion in time for a Nov. 11 Veterans Day ceremony, has seen Anthem raise $137,000 through sales of 662 pavers as well as donations. The latest donation came from the Daisy Mountain VFW, which presented a check for the installation and maintenance of the flag pole that will stand at the memorial.
Construction on the memorial is set to begin July 12. Security cameras, that will protect the memorial, are set to be installed prior to the start of construction. Tucker said the only potential hold up on completion of the memorial is the delivery of the marble for the five pillars. Tucker said even if there is a holdup on the delivery of the marble, which is being delivered from Italy, the plan calls for the memorial to be complete two months prior to the Nov. 11 ceremony allowing some time allowances should there be any holdups.