“Retiree Attraction”Strategies by Towns, and Cities to Be Retirement Conference Focus

Sept. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Towns and communities – even states - throughout America that are searching for new local spending and a spike in economic activity are increasingly seeking to attract 50+ retirees from other states. Strategies on how to position and market a community to retirees will be one of the topics at the 11th Annual National Active Retirement  Association (NARA) “Power Tools” business conference to be held Oct. 20-22 at the Columbia, SC Convention Center in downtown Columbia. The NARA conference is one of the top national business conferences in America that focuses strictly on the fast-growing 50+ marketplace.

“Today's retirees are not rocking their life away sipping mint juleps,” said NARA Director Dan Owens. “Studies have shown that the average transplanted 55+ retiree couple can have the same economic impact on a community as the attraction of 3.7 manufacturing jobs.”

For years, towns and cities have recruited industrial and manufacturing relocations from other states. These same communities have likewise also advertised to attract tourists to their town. Now, many states and towns have organized sophisticated efforts to attract retirees. Retirees not only bring assets, pensions and home equity to invest in their new home, they also bring what Owens calls “social capital.”

“The leadership skills that made the retirees successful in their careers are put to work in church, civic and charity pursuits in their new town,” said Owens. “Their need to give back is great and in rural America the need for these skills is also substantial,” he said.

States like Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas all have developed state-funded programs to attract retirees. Sherri Gothart-Barron, the head of the GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community program will address the conference. In addition, NARA, Retirement Lifestyles magazine and TW+A Associates of Phoenix, AZ will host a four-hour retiree attraction summit on Wed., Oct. 22. Helen Foster, formerly of J. Walter Thompson’s Mature Market Group in New Orleans, will discuss her extensive involvement in helping Louisiana market to out of state retirees. And, Senior USDA Demographer John Cromartie, who has researched retirement to rural areas will also present his findings.

Other complementary topics at the October event will include marketing and public relations, demographic trends, building, selling, and internet marketing.

Anyone interested in understanding and doing more business with the members of the Baby Boomer Age Wave – those affluent, fast-growing aging boomers that will ultimately be 78 million strong – should attend. To learn more about registration and sponsorship opportunities, call (888)742-7362 or go to www.retirementlivingnews.com.

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The National Active Retirement Association (NARA) is a 10-year old, grassroots trade organization that organizes and helps marketers, builders and professionals, businesses and organizations that provide products, housing and services to people age 55+.