In February 2013, Mayor Michael Nutter and officials from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) gathered to announce an employment milestone and updated plans for the 1200-acre Navy Yard campus in South Philadelphia. The Navy Yard was closed as an operating naval base in 1996, yet now boasts over 10,000 employees working at over 130 companies, which exceeds pre-closure levels of employment. To mark this milestone, PIDC and the mayor unveiled plans for further expansion of the facility, with an expected economic impact of over 20,000 additional jobs created.
Bellevue was asked to assist with the coordination and promotion of the press conference announcing the employment milestone and updated strategic plan. In advance of the press conference, Bellevue worked in collaboration with the mayor’s office and senior officials with PIDC to craft the overall message of the event, ensuring both concurrent announcements were complementary to one another. Bellevue also prepared press statements and talking points for senior officials with PIDC for use during one-on-one interviews with members of the media, and consulted with PIDC staff on event logistics to ensure a positive visual impact to go along with the announcement.
The press conference was a major success, with turnout from many leaders in the local business and entrepreneurial community, as well as coverage in every major local media outlet including The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS3, NBC10, 6ABC, Philadelphia Business Journal, and more. The event garnered more than 1.9 million media impressions resulting in more than $24,000 in total ad value.