The City of Goose Creek has received a Municipal Achievement Award for the Adopt a Goose Program. The city won in the communications category. Forty cities and towns submitted their projects and initiatives for consideration in the annual awards.
A relatively new city incorporated in 1961, Goose Creek is working to overcome its perception as a bedroom community without a traditional downtown. The Adopt a Goose Program provided an immediate way for it to build community identity. Local businesses can adopt a 4-foot fiberglass goose statue, uniquely painted by the Goose Creek Artists Guild and frequently themed to the business, for display throughout the city.
Businesses apply online to sponsor a goose to cover costs, followed by design work, painting, clear-coating and installation. As the project launched, city staff built community buzz using social media teases before revealing the first four geese in a surprise overnight installation. With the initial slate of geese installed, they offered an interactive scavenger hunt complete with local-business-focused promotions, which encouraged goose statue hunters to travel into businesses and take selfies with the geese for social media.
The program emphasizes fun in everything from the designs to the avian puns — one installation carries the name of Vincent Van Goose — and the community has responded enthusiastically.
“Goose Creek’s Adopt a Goose Program is a great example of using a wide variety of communication tools to reach residents, drive economic development and build community pride,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association.
These winning entries represent innovative projects undertaken by Municipal Association member cities and towns. Information and a video about the project are available on the Association’s website www.masc.sc (keyword: Achievement Awards).
The Municipal Association of SC initiated the Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovations and excellence in local government.
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