OTTAWA — County and city commissioners are getting into the proximity of a decision on what to call the new industrial park south of Ottawa. A marketing study and a local marketing committee have whether to keep its present name, Rock Creek Development Park, or change it to another name. The study has suggested three names, including Rock Creek Business Park, Proximity Park or Prairie Spirit Opportunity Park. However, most Ottawa and Franklin county commissioners say they’re leaning to changing the name to Proximity Park, which is a sleeker, more unique name that suggests the park’s proximity to highway and rail connections and to the Kansas City area. County commissioners could decide on the name Wednesday. The name and the logo of the new industrial park must grab national site selectors within 10 to 15 seconds to be effective, economic development director James Oltham told county commissioners this morning. At a recent meeting, Oltham said he and about 125 other economic development directors met with 15 site selectors. “Time is of critical importance … the idea in those sort of settings is to get them interested enough and get it to stick in their mind.” Site selectors do about 90 percent of their search for new industrial sites on-line before making any contacts, and a name and logo is absolutely necessary, he said. The city and county have been jointly working to develop the new industrial park and are in the process of issuing bonds to handle their improvements to the park.
Monday, May 1, 1 p.m.
