Nearly two years of collaboration by a host of community partners culminated with the recent unveiling of the “It’s Magic in Minot” branding campaign.

“It’s Magic in Minot” was born through a citywide collaboration between the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Minot, Minot Area Development Corp., Visit Minot, Downtown Minot, the Minot Park District, Minot State University, Trinity Health and many other partners.

Two years ago, supporters from these entities and others from the community formed an initiative dedicated to creating new ways to enhance Minot’s sense of community pride, improve investments, encourage entrepreneurs, market the city, and improve quality of life. Technical teams, including one known as One Brand, met countless times, with members focusing on how to accomplish goals in support of the initiative’s overall mission.

A survey of residents provided a wealth of information, with perhaps the most important piece of data reinforcing what we already knew: Most of us already love our community. Information from the survey helped guide the creation of a marketing plan for the city as a whole, while also addressing specific topics and focused goals.

This community strategy includes a new logo and marketing plan, dedicated to reinforcing our community’s spirit and enthusiasm, while showcasing what we know is our best asset: Our people. The logo will become more visible through its usage on social media, the website MagicInMinot.com, and other opportunities around Minot. While the logo is the visual representation of the organizations and entities that make up Minot, it truly is the people represented by the logo who continue to make our community a success.

I invite you to share in the growing enthusiasm of “It’s Magic in Minot.” Many of you are already actively involved in making Minot a better place to live, work, and raise a family. We all play an important role in Minot’s future simply by choosing to call this our home. But we know there is more work to be done as we continue to grow and evolve as a community.

Think of “It’s Magic in Minot” as our new collective rallying cry, our new message to those who live here, those we welcome as visitors, those we encourage to make Minot their home, and those to whom we can provide opportunities to open new businesses and other cultural and economic endeavors. “It’s Magic in Minot” is our new united voice, a powerful tool in sharing everything great about our community. Our message must resonate with individuals and businesses alike, as we continue to forge an increasingly resilient future.

My request of everyone is simple: Be involved.

Share the news about “It’s Magic in Minot” with family and friends, especially those who don’t live here. Check out the MagicInMinot.com website for ideas on things to do in Minot, and then go do them. Try a restaurant you haven’t been at before, or visit our locally owned shops and stores. Take your family for a walk on one of our nature trails. Visit the new large cat exhibits at Roosevelt Park Zoo. The possibilities are endless.

I realize I’m generally preaching to the choir here, but it’s always a perfect time to take a step back, look around, and realize everything that Minot has to offer, not only to visitors, but to all of us on a daily basis. Reconnect with your community, and don’t be afraid to share your uniquely Minot experiences with others. This is our community and our home. It’s Magic in Minot is another great way to share our story. Sometimes, it’s OK to brag a little bit.

Sincerely, City Hall.

You can find more about what’s happening at the City of Minot at minotnd.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. We’d also encourage you to sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter on our website.