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The Challenge
Manufacturing is in the DNA of southwestern Pennsylvania. Generations of blue-collar workers have called western Pennsylvania home. The coal mined from its hills and the steel forged in its mills literally built this nation. The wages earned from that work helped to sustain families and built strong communities for many years.
Yet as the world changed, some saw traditional industries as relics to be left in the past. They forgot that a healthy and diverse economy requires “eds & meds,” emerging technology companies, and traditional industry.
The advent of shale gas and the emerging petrochemical industry are producing low-cost energy, creating family-sustaining jobs, and providing new opportunities for workers who otherwise would be left behind.
However, so-called environmental groups are leading the fight to kill energy and manufacturing jobs in southwestern Pennsylvania. Some politicians have chosen to join that fight at the expense of their long-time allies working in the building trades and manufacturing. And blue-collar workers have felt abandoned as groups promote a future economic vision of the region that does not include them. Simply put, they were under attack and no one was there to defend them.
The Solution
Facing annihilation, nontraditional allies saw the need to work together. Recognizing they had no organization advocating for their interests, members of industry and the building trades turned to ColdSpark to help chart the path forward.
ColdSpark was engaged to help form a new entity. Our award-winning design team developed the name, branding and all collateral materials associated with the creation of Pittsburgh Works Together.
ColdSpark was engaged to help form a new entity. Our award-winning design team developed the name, branding and all collateral materials associated with the creation of Pittsburgh Works Together
The Goals are:
- Galvanize public support by educating the public and combating misinformation in public discourse
- Become a fact-based resource for information
- Serve as a respected voice framing the debate.
After conducting quantitative and qualitative research with a respected national polling firm, ColdSpark coordinated the development of a campaign plan for Pittsburgh Works’ first year.
The Result
The organization officially launched at a press event that included more than 500 attendees and sent a strong message to the community that this was an organization with staying power.
ColdSpark deployed a communications plan which included the launch of a network television buy with a commercial introducing Pittsburgh Works Together. Also, we worked to place op-eds in key markets.
In an effort to help guide our state policy makers to enact pro-jobs legislation, Pittsburgh Works Together launched the Get to Work and Build it Here Plan. With ColdSpark’s guidance this plan was able to garner significant coverage and is resulting in legislative action in the state legislature.
There are many fights ahead of Pittsburgh Works Together, but now there is a strong organization defending these jobs and their values.
