Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized.
Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency.
Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big.
Daniel Burnham | Chicago architect (1864-1912)
Communication That Gives Voice to the Vision
Burnham wasn’t writing about regional land-use planning, air quality, economic development or infrastructure-related communications. However, these and other crucial but, too-often, under-the-radar issues create and sustain thriving, livable communities; they require thinking big precisely because the challenges are substantial and long-term.
Thinking big requires — demands — that the public and key stakeholder groups fully understand your agency’s mission and vision. Explaining that effectively requires consistent, compelling communication strategy backed by clear objectives and the experience of best practices gleaned from across the nation.
West Third Group: Helping Clients Think Big
Helping clients think big by giving them tools and strategies that work is what West Third Group does — and does well. We work with public- and private-sector clients throughout the nation on projects ranging from independent communication audits to strategic communications planning and full program execution. We’re intimately familiar with the languages of economic development, workforce development, transportation, planning, public policy, infrastructure and behavior-change communications, turning them into compelling strategies and messages that move audiences to action.
Analysis and Planning
West Third Group performs communications audits and develops strategic marketing and communications plans for a range of public-sector entities. From MPOs to workforce development boards, major infrastructure initiatives and water districts, we’ve given executives, boards and staffs the tools they need for managed, measurable communications with stakeholders.
Marketing Program Execution
Sometimes, a plan isn’t enough. When your agency or department requires full-service public involvement or marketing communications execution, West Third Group is there. We bring together the perspective and depth of knowledge of a national practice in public-sector communications, helping clients engage their key audiences with award-winning creativity and an eye on bottom-line effectiveness.
Social and Traditional Media
Thousands of dialogues have overtaken traditional advertising and media relations. Conversations on Twitter, Facebook, a constituent’s blog or an e-mail listserv require rapid, effective and policy-driven responses. West Third Group can help, integrating social media into your communications and training staff in the best ways to leverage this important new media.
Public Involvement
Thinking big means effective stakeholder engagement — not just cookies-and-PowerPoint public meetings, but communications that actively seek to draw in traditional and under-represented voices in the community. West Third Group works with public agencies that are committed to breaking new ground in engaging their publics, with an emphasis on gathering meaningful input that can be put to direct use.
Ordered, Effective Communications for a Midwest MPO
West Third Group was engaged by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission to determine the strategic communication competencies that needed to be improved within the organization, and to develop a plan for staff to undertake those improvements. The resulting communications audit and plan was extremely well received by the staff and board, and allowed for planned, measurable communications with no changes in staffing or budget.
Public-Sector Branding
It's Not What You Think — But It Can Fundamentally Change How You Relate to Stakeholders
In this brief, informative white paper, learn how branding goes far beyond a logo and tagline — and how smart public institutions can embrace strategic branding to impact everything from engagement to funding.
Genuine Public Involvement
Learn What It Takes
West Third Group's long-time experience in public involvement shows that real community engagement doesn't start with better meetings or brochures — it starts with understanding how people form their opinions, attitudes and values about issues.
Fan Mail
What Clients Say
From executives to sales reps, from production personnel to the advertisers our client publications serve, everyone's got something good to say about West Third Group.