Case Study
Introducing a New Era Without Losing Small-Town Charm
The City of Palmetto · Palmetto, Florida
Challenge
The City of Palmetto underwent a major mayoral change in 2025 as Mayor Dan West took office as the city's first new mayor in 16 years. Backed by millions in state appropriations, the new administration planned major redevelopments and mixed-use projects to transform Palmetto from a pass-through traffic town into a premier destination. The city needed to elevate its public image without alienating current residents, yet it had no social media presence or PR support to balance an influx of tourism and development with the preservation of Palmetto's small-town quality of life.
Solution
INGAGE launched a comprehensive, multi-channel locals first marketing campaign positioning redevelopment not as a replacement for Palmetto's charm but as a protective investment in it. Media relations secured high-impact local, regional, and national coverage to drive tourism and economic development while promoting the events, programs, and grants that build civic pride. Social media brought the city's first official Facebook and Instagram pages to life with then-and-now photos honoring Palmetto's history, spotlights on local historians and long-standing businesses, and transparent, real-time updates on city developments. Email marketing added quarterly print and digital newsletters covering news, developments, mayoral interviews, and city media spotlights.
Impact
The city's social media presence grew by more than 3,200 followers in the first year of the partnership. The contract expanded to include emergency communications and a rebranding project to design a new city seal and logo, and the work led to additional marketing contracts with other city departments, adding the Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency and the Palmetto Police Department as new clients.
