Eckel & Vaughan, a strategic communications and advertising firm in Raleigh, has completed its draft plan for a new regional marketing initiative that will lay the groundwork for branding the region in an attempt to attract investment and new industries during the Wells Fargo Golf Championship in May, chamber officials said this week.

The Wilmington City Council on Tuesday also is slated to receive a presentation on the golf tournament preparations by the chamber's interim CEO Dick Blouse and Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The regional marketing initiative was started by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and includes economic development organizations from New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Columbus counties, according to the chamber.

The initiative's goal is to "capitalize on the largest sporting event ever hosted in our area in order to market the region as a great place to do business, to create jobs, and to bring outside business infrastructure and investment, and to use this message platform as a springboard for future marketing efforts," chamber board chairman Charlie Mattox said in his January update sent to chamber members this week.
 
"The campaign will lay the groundwork for branding the region to set us apart from competitor regions seeking to attract investment and workforce," he added.

The next step, Mattox said, is the development of the creative aspects of the campaign.
 
Last summer, the board of directors of the chamber’s flagship initiative, Cape Fear Future, approved $100,000 for the regional marketing initiative as seed money to help raise matching dollars from the public and private sector, and the chamber selected Eckel & Vaughan for the task after putting it out for bid.
 
The Wells Fargo Championship will take place May 1-7, at Eagle Point Golf Club, and is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the area as well as a large television audience.