Choose Cape Fear, the four-county economic development marketing campaign that developed around the Wells Fargo golf tournament in May, will transition into an initiative run by group of regional volunteers.
 
Eckel and Vaughan, a Raleigh- based marketing and public relations firm, will remain part of the campaign for efforts on a national scale, said Natalie English, president and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. But attention has now turned to getting more people involved in story development, social media marketing and fundraising efforts for the initiative.
                
The campaign was funded by $100,000 from Cape Fear Future, $75,000 from New Hanover County and $50,000 from the city of Wilmington, each spread over two fiscal years, as well as investments from the town of Leland, Columbus County and the Columbus Jobs Foundation, she said. English did not disclose how much of those funds has been spent.
 
Regional volunteers will free up funds for marketing items such as print and digital advertising, which English hopes will thrust the region into the national spotlight, gaining the attention of business decision- makers outside the area, she said.
 
Some efforts will hone in on markets such as Chicago and Atlanta, where site selectors and business will be targeted.
 
The new structure will likely be made up of four volunteer groups.
 
“We’re looking for this campaign to take on a life that requires … getting the best of all the minds in the region to help advance the cause of making our community attractive for additional business investment,” English said.