By Steve Seepersaud
If your job can be done from anywhere, why not leave the big city and move to Binghamton? A Binghamton University alumna is leading a new marketing campaign starting to get that message out.
Judi Hess '97, director of Visit Binghamton and senior vice president of the Greater
Binghamton Chamber, has been working for years to increase the amount of tourism to
the region. Since the pandemic started, Hess has been leading a work group focused
on attracting visitors as well as people who want to make Binghamton their new home.
Since March, there has been a growing trend of people expressing a desire to leave high-density areas such as New York in favor of less-crowded environs. Those who are able to work full-time remotely, Hess said, will find a much higher quality of life without a long-distance move.
"Broome County has a much lower cost of living, but still offers lifestyle amenities to rival anyone," Hess said. "The ability to sustain a true work-life balance is attainable. And our location within three hours of major metropolitan areas keeps you connected with family and friends or favorite attractions."
In particular, Hess hopes Binghamton alumni would be willing to consider moving to a place they're already familiar with and where they created lifelong memories. No matter when someone attended the University, they'd return to find something new.
"Over the past decade, there have been so many positive changes taking place on campus and in the community," Hess said. "A new wave of entrepreneurs has opened small businesses, the restaurant scene is hopping and the arts are thriving."
The tourism work group is part of the Greater Binghamton area's COVID-19 Economic Response, Recovery and Resilience Task Force, with subgroups focused on business and economic continuity; workforce and talent retention and acquisition; and tourism and quality of life.
The campaign marketing Binghamton as the new place to be targets social media ads to New York and other large Northeast areas. The Visit Binghamton website has content for people interested in relocating. There are video testimonials from area business owners, and listings of amenities such as golf courses, dining-out options and community events. What people enjoy in larger areas can be enjoyed in Binghamton, she said.
"For the outdoor enthusiast we have four full seasons of beauty and activity," Hess said. "Culture vultures can take in the opera and philharmonic, live comedy and theater performances, and see world-class art every First Friday of the month. Farm-to-table experiences can be found in local restaurants or at farmer's markets. Loft living in city centers is an option, but so is a home with acreage."
The outreach effort will also leverage local ambassadors. People who request information on relocating, via the Visit Binghamton website, would be invited to visit the area and connected to a resident who can give a tour, show what the area has going for it and add a personal touch.
"As someone who has grown up here, what I love most about the community is the connectivity," Hess said. "People are warm and welcoming and willing to offer a hand or sage advice. By offering to create virtual or in-person tours for potential new residents, our hope is to share that feeling of belonging right from the start.
"We’re not just a destination. We’re an ongoing story you can be a part of. We’re not just a vacation. We’re a city to be explored. We invite our alumni to take their own journey, make their own discoveries and write their own chapter."
Banner image by Fred Coffey
