CAPITOL HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HIRES KITE TO PROMOTE SEATTLE’S CAPITOL HILL

SEATTLE - The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce has hired Kite Inc., a full-service brand strategy and design firm, to begin work on the first phase of a brand development project for Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Kite will help promote and accentuate the neighborhood as a great place to live, work and shop.

Part of a comprehensive 5-year strategic marketing communications effort, one of the primary goals of the program is to promote Capitol Hill as a shopping, dining and entertainment destination that will remain vibrant during the 6.5 years of Sound Transit light rail construction beginning in 2009.

"Through this initiative, we hope to identify, illuminate and communicate the attributes of Capitol Hill that are unique and beloved by residents and visitors alike," said Jack Hilovsky, executive director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. "With Kite's approach, we look forward to gaining a better understanding of our customer's perceptions and experiences, recognizing the goals of multiple stakeholders and ensuring a long-term commitment to our neighborhood's economic vitality and diversity."

Kite will work closely with a group of community stakeholders that include local business owners and residents to gain a deeper understanding of the neighborhood's needs and ambitions.

"Ultimately the success of this project will depend on the stakeholder's ability to deliver consistent experiences that are true of Capitol Hill," said Mary Weisnewski, principal at Kite. "By revealing the communities' unique qualities and expressing them in a strategic communications campaign, we can help distill the essence of Capitol Hill and the potential of this community."

Financial partners in this effort include the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, Broadway Business Improvement Area, and Sound Transit.

Following the research study, execution of a marketing plan will occur in early 2009.

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