WHAT IS DAYTON HOMECOMING?

Dayton Homecoming is about long-term economic and community development, designed to infuse the region with returning and new residents who can contribute to the “renaissance in progress” at a time when all rust-belt regions are struggling to attract talent and grow population.

The goals are twofold:

• Attract and retain motivated talent
• Change perceptions about Dayton and give Dayton a “cool” factor by authentically telling its new story. The ultimate goal is for Dayton to become a destination people WANT to relocate to, and not just because they are from here or have been recruited for a position here.

Dayton Homecoming leverages a unique moment in time brought on by the COVID 19 pandemic where 1) people are re-evaluating their work-life balance priorities and 2) the option of remote work is allowing people more flexibility about where they choose to live.

Dayton Homecoming takes advantage of what people in Dayton are already doing with family and friends, improving effectiveness by serving as a resource hub of inspiration, information and connectivity for Dayton Evangelists, those looking to relocate to the Dayton region and regional stakeholders with a shared interest in community and economic development and/or a specific need to attract talent. 

By coalescing these three groups, Dayton Homecoming will be scalable, and will realize an impact multiplier-effect that cannot be realized without shared messaging, connectivity and resources.

WHAT WILL DAYTON HOMECOMING DO?

• PEOPLE POWER 
• Build and support a highly data-driven network of Dayton Evangelists, Sherpas and Stakeholders [Think CRM on the back-end].
• Evangelists can operate individually, focusing on family, friends, classmates and colleagues, or the network can be leveraged to support individual organizations or sectors.
• Provide support to network members so they can be most effective.

• STORYTELLING/MARKETING
• Create original video, audio and print content about Evangelists, Returnees and New Arrivals to support the Evangelist and for general distribution.
• Contract with local content producers to capture Dayton Homecoming stories. 
• Work with local, regional and national media, as appropriate, to get the Dayton Homecoming story out 

• EVENTS TO CELEBRATE, HIGHLIGHT AND CONNECT
• Organize an annual Dayton Homecoming Weekend that highlights the “new” including Arts & Culture, Culinary, Live Music and Outdoor Adventure.
• Designate Co-Working Week(s) on either side of Homecoming Weekend, offering future Daytonians engaged in entrepreneurial endeavors or working remotely FREE access to area co-working spaces.
• Organize a First Friday Happy Hour to enhance building and energizing the Dayton Homecoming community and welcoming new arrivals.

• OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
• Conceived and incubated by The Collaboratory, we will assemble a leadership team to co-create, implement and oversee Dayton Homecoming.
• The ultimate goal is for Dayton to become a destination people WANT to relocate to, and not just because they are from here or have been recruited for a position here.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?

• Dayton Homecoming has identified and reached out to other initiatives and efforts related to talent attraction/showcasing the region:
• https://livability.com/oh/dayton/ - Joint effort of the DDC and DACC.
• https://www.makedaytonregionhome.com/ - From Business First.
• https://launchdayton.com/ - Galvanizing the entrepreneurial eco-system.
• https://www.1stconnections.com/ - Working with local employers’ executive candidates and new hires.
• https://www.miamicountymomentum.com/ - In Miami County.
• https://hometownopportunity.com/ - In Mercer, Auglaize, Darke and Shelby Counties. Jobs focused.