The newly established Central Berrien Chamber and Growth Alliance has big plans to help promote the community of Baroda.
Speaking to the village council this week, Kati Schoenwitz with the CGA unveiled a marketing plan being hatched for the township and village.
Schoenwitz is the founder of Baroda Soda and has been working with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber to get the new CGA up and running. She said as the organization looked at Baroda and Baroda Township, it saw a need for new branding that includes a logo and slogan.
“We think that a new brand is going to really, really help the village and the township raise the bar, lending a little bit of sophistication to official communications,” Schoenwitz said. “Again, we can have tailored versions of these for the village or the township if needed, if this is something that works for a budget or could be useful to folks.”
Schoenwitz unveiled a new logo in which the O in Baroda is made out of a gear and a leaf, representing the key local industries of agriculture and manufacturing. She said the CGA wants people to know there’s more to Baroda than wineries. She also proposed the new slogan, “Raise the Bar-oda.”
Schoenwitz said the new CGA has ideas for a variety of ways to improve the community.
“Fundraisers, grant applications, hiring or recruiting efforts for local businesses, outdoor markets or festivals.”
Schoenwitz added new signage and marketing materials are planned, and she announced a new website, DiscoverBaroda.org. For now, it’s a landing page to show off some of the marketing concepts.
As the new CGA gets off the ground, Schoenwitz said its director has been found and hired. She starts on March 16.
The Central Berrien CGA is comprised of Baroda Township, the village of Baroda, Berrien Township, Oronoko Township, the village of Berrien Springs, and the village of Eau Claire. It was announced by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber last year.
