Live Larned

Larned, Pawnee County reaping benefi ts from marketing eff ort

Larned and Pawnee County continue to partner with the Topeka-based marketing fi rm Bajillion Agency to promote the area’s ample job opportunities, safe neighborhoods and low cost of living.

Th e Live Larned campaign, which started in 2019, involves a mix of traditional, digital and social media eff orts. It has included the development of a new brand/logo family, new microwebsite for Larned State Hospital recruiting, a marketing plan, new photography, community brochure, recruiting videos and more.

“We are super happy with it,” Larned Mayor William Nusser said of the partnership, noting the importance of the varied marketing approach. “Having someone handle our imaging has helped us.”

As the city’s and county’s marketing needs changed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bajillion was there to off er advice and reaim promotional eff orts. He called their work “targeted” and “laser focused,” while being easily adaptable to meet shift ing needs.

Th e services cost about $2030,000 each year, but Nusser said it is worth the price. For the cost of an additional employee, they can tap into the agency’s resources, contacts and networking ability.

Th ey have already started to see dividends, the mayor said.

“For the past 40 years, there has been a big rural to urban shift ,” he said. But, since COVID and people working from home, more folks looking for rural communities.

Th is ongoing campaign has put Larned and Pawnee County on the map, Nusser said. People are fi nding them and relocating there.

All along, this has been a joint eff ort between the city and the county, he said.

“We are better together,” he said, Over the past few years, this relationship has gotten even stronger.

“Pawnee County and Larned have so much to off er to people who live and work there, we’re just thrilled we got the chance to tell that story,” said Andrea Engstrom, president of Bajillion Agency. “Congratulations to the entire community ... we love working with you guys.”