New website to promote attractions, businesses in Windham

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Sep. 20—WINDHAM — With the help of the town's public relations consultant, a new website is being developed to promote attractions and businesses in Windham.

The website is one of several projects that Quinn & Hary Public Relations of New London are working on. Windham Economic and Development Director James Bellano said the town has a one-year contract with the public relations firm and is paying them $50,000 of the town's American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The town got about $ 7.3 million in ARPA funds.

Bellano said he got a test version of the website and plans to sit down with Windham Economic and Community Development Manager YukShan Li on Tuesday to discuss it.

The website is expected to be launched in the near future.

" I don't want to rush it and then pull back and redo so let's be safe and say another couple weeks," Bellano said.

The tagline of the promotional website will be " Why Windham?"

It will feature information about dining, shopping and events and will include an events calendar. Bellano said he's considered developing a promotional website for a while, noting that other Connecticut towns, including Farmington, have tourism websites.

He said the promotional website is separate from the town website.

"The town website is for connecting to departments and individuals in town," Bellano said.

$100,000 in ARPA money was allocated to promote downtown Willimantic over three years, including the $50,000 for Quinn & Hary and $50,000 for advertising and other expenses.

Bellano said Quinn & Hary were one of three finalists who responded to a request for proposals issued by the town for a public relations consultant in March.

Staff from the firm presented their work during the Sept. 6 town council meeting.

" Thank you for your efforts," Windham Mayor Thomas DeVivo told the firm.

Quinn & Hary President David Quinn spoke about the importance of updating the website, noting that a good website isn't " static."

He encouraged local organizations to share their social media content.

" This is truly a partnership," Quinn said. " We've gotten great cooperation from the town merchants."

In addition to the website, the firm will also promote the town's events and businesses through social media using the economic and community development departments' Facebook and Instagram pages.

Quinn & Hary Senior Account Executive Karen Ali said the " fan base" on the department's social media pages is " growing."

" Obviously, the concert coming up is very popular," she said, referring to the concert on Sunday.

She said the goal is to feature some of the Windham businesses on social media to give a " slice of life" in Windham. The concert, a partnership between the town and Eastern Connecticut State University, features hip- hop artist Yung Gravy. Gates open at 3 p. m. at Shaboo Stage and the main performance starts at 5 p. m.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter — @mwarrentc.