Fenton Be Closer Nominated for Award

Campaign was up for Michigan Municipal League's Community Excellence Award.

After receiving much heat from Fenton residents, the Fenton Be Closer campaign was nominated for a community award. The city's marketing program was nominated for Michigan Municipal League's Community Excellence Award, but was not a regional finalist, according to the Flint Journal. The award recognizes innovative solutions taking place in Michigan's cities, villages and urban townships. Fenton Patch reported the Be Closer campaign began in early 2011 and has since drawn criticism from residents and city officials. The Fenton Downtown Development Authority then took a closer look at the campaign and stood behind it. You can read more about the Fenton Be Closer campaign on Fenton Patch.

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Welcome to Downtown Fenton Signs Earn Recognition for Design

Weaver Design wins award.

The city of Fenton is proud to have earned unique design recognition for their Welcome to Downtown Fenton sign. Weaver Design was the recipient of the Silver ADDY® award in the “Out-of-Home” category for their design work on the signage. The design takes inspiration from both modern architecture and nature found throughout Fenton.  While the signs’ fluted base and iron-like archway hint to famed architect Eero Saarinen, who designed the Fenton Community Center along with other city buildings, the intricate, lattice pattern pays homage to the arch of the iconic Fenton Gazebo. The teal color of the signs was chosen to blend with landscape and local waterways in and around Fenton.  “As both the designer and a community member, it’s exciting …

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stephanie pytlowanyj

10:30 am on Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Yuck, no they aren't. They just don't fit the quaintness of what Dibbleville is suppose to be. The base of the larger signs look like a glob of cement with lines drawn in them, and unfortunately that's what grabs my attention.   more ›

Fenton Council Discusses 'Be Closer'

Members weigh in on concerns with campaign.

Fenton’s Be Closer campaign came under some fire at Monday’s city council work session, as council members and the audience discussed a variety of issues. Councilwoman Pat Lockwood relayed some concerns from the public, saying she has talked with 30 to 35 business owners at both ends of the downtown district. These businesses gave a mix of very positive, and very negative, comments. It’s her job to bring the comments forward, Lockwood said. One concern is, there is some confusion about the logo the city’s marketing consultants developed. Fenton is undergoing a Renaissance, and a rebirth is happening there, said Kim Rivera, head of New Moon Visions, in Milford, the city’s public relations consultant. It includes the new Streetscape being …

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Fenton Patch Featured on Fenton Focus

Fenton Be Closer takes a look behind the website.

Made in Fenton: Niche Businesses Thriving

Homegrown businesses contribute to Fenton's economy.

When Kathy Shouse decided to take her passion for baking from her kitchen to a business, the Fenton resident didn’t look far from home. She knew the community would be supportive and welcoming for her bakery and dessert shop, Kathy’s Patisserie Specialty Cakes & Bakes. She hasn't been disappointed. Marjie Andrejciw, a holistic nutritional counselor, was also seeking a local location close to home for her business, Marjie’s Gluten Free Pantry. “I wanted to ride my bike to work,” said the Fenton resident. And when Matt Cooper was looking for a home for his ice sculpture and design company, Icon Ice, he said Fenton chose him. Fenton has become a place where you can find many niche items, from gluten-free pancakes to a customized ice sculpture…

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stephanie pytlowanyj

11:32 am on Monday, January 30, 2012

Gliks is a place with lousy service and product. With our last visit there I even told the manager we'd never be back. The Miss Me jeans are $160.00 My daughter had a gift card for a much lesser amount so my daughter tried on other jeans, normally she wears a sz 6. She went up to a sz 9 in the other jeans Gliks sells and they still didn't fit. So she started looking at tops and the ones within …   more ›

Officials Take 'Closer' Look at Fenton's Marketing Campaign

City officials to discuss marketing campaign in 2012.

New Moon Visions officials gave a presentation to the Fenton Downtown Development Authority Tuesday reporting business growth, an increase in engagement with business owners and a larger online business presence as a result of the Be Closer campaign. "We want to see cash registers ringing and businesses growing," said Natalie Burg, who has worked for New Moon Visions on the Be Closer campaign. "The number of businesses and occupancy has gone up." DDA Chairman Craig Schmidt and many other DDA members said they believe the campaign is working. "Our numbers continue to increase on every aspect of what we are trying to do with this campaign," Schmidt said. Burg said there are three new businesses and six less vacancies in the downtown district…

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Jason Alexander

5:46 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Thanks for clarifying Vera. Like the campaign or not, I hope our What Does Be Closer Mean? section clears up some confusion to why the symbols and slogan were chosen.   more ›

Fenton HS Art Department Joins 3rd Thursdays for Holiday Celebration

The Fenton High School Art Department will be downtown selling and wrapping gifts.

The monthly evening of shopping, dining and fun in Fenton will be extra special during December as the Fenton High School Art Department hosts a holiday fundraiser, and shoppers have a chance to win a $100 Fenton Gift Card. The evening of holiday fun will take place on Dec. 15 at participating stores throughout Fenton. The FHS Art Department will be downtown wrapping gifts with handmade wrapping paper, entertaining with holiday music and selling artful holiday gifts.  Fenton 3rd Thursday merchants wil also be offering exclusive, one-night-only features, such as A Joyful Noise Music Studio’s offer of a free lesson to anyone who signs up on Thursday, free pictures with Santa at Billmeier Camera Shop, 20 percent off jewelry at The Iron Grate …

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New Fenton Council Member Cites Issues with 'Be Closer'

Patricia Lockwood suggests that the council become involved to ensure the city marketing campaign's success.

Citing some challenges with Fenton’s Be Closer campaign, a new city council member wants to help ensure the campaign’s success. “We are hearing about it and reading about it,” Councilwoman Patricia Lockwood said. When the city has a contract and campaign it’s invested a lot of money in, it wants to make sure the campaign is successful, she said. She asked about the best way to approach the issue, and whether the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has a marketing committee. DDA Director Michael Burns said the DDA had a committee for marketing in the past, but it does not have one anymore. There are checks and balances in place through the DDA board, he said. Lockwood said council can discuss the Be Closer campaign at its work session on …

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Bev Fitzgerald

11:44 am on Saturday, December 3, 2011

It took some time before I grasped the concept of the campaign. I had to see several billboards before it made sense.   more ›

DDA to “Be Closer” with Marketing Firm for Another Year

The Downtown Development Authority has reached an agreement with New Moon Visions.

The Fenton Downtown Development Authority has signed with the Milford-based New Moon Visions for another year. The terms of the agreement include a monthly retainer of $5,008 for the marketing firm. The company's hourly fee is $100 per hour, and the DDA pays the business for 601 annual hours. This will include: maintaining the Be Closer Web site, online magazine, social media, marketing plan tasks, business workshops, press releases for merchants and events, event coordination, benchmarking criteria for the marketing program, meeting attendance, market outreach (working with the business community) and managing the billboard and radio media purchases. "They (New Moon Visions) will engage merchants, residents and community groups in helping…

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