Capital of Dreams Launches "Cool" Campaign

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By Heather VacLav

Story Created: May 10, 2012 at 5:39 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 11, 2012 at 3:15 PM CDT

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce joined Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange to unveil a new marketing campaign to showcase the capitol city as a very "cool" place to live and visit.

The new campaign, “Montgomery, Capital Cool” is the next phase for the Capital of Dreams campaign launched two years ago. It is designed to help transform Montgomery into a destination appealing for tourism, travel and sports. 

Following the announcement, CBS-8 shared the campaign’s name with people walking around downtown Montgomery, and while many were excited, others think “Capital Cool” is anything but. 

"I get the Capital Cool, the two C's, but I think it’s kinda cheesy a little bit," said Kelsey Williamson, a college student from Hope Hull.

 Shawn Tousignant of Montgomery agrees, “It’s a little cheesy.” 

“It’s kinda cheesy, I haven’t heard of it yet,” said Rob Anderson of Montgomery.

 Mayor Todd Strange says he hopes people catch on because Montgomery has so many new events and opportunities. 

“If you haven’t been in Montgomery in the past five years, you don't know how cool Montgomery is,” Strange said. “You can take cool in any take, form and fashion. It's about vibrancy, it’s about having fun, it really is about the young people, but old people can be cool too.” 

The goal is “Capital Cool” will be timeless, and get all visitors and residents excited to explore the city. 

“This place is just coming together very nicely,” said Dave Shope, who is newer to the River Region. “It’s very cool.” 

The Chamber of Commerce hopes to feed off of positive energy from places in downtown Montgomery like the Alley Station, Riverfront Stadium and the Renaissance Hotel to keep the “Capital Cool.” 

“Everybody wants to go to a cool place, so we figured it was a great way to brand our city in conjunction with the capital of dreams,” said Dawn Hathcock, Vice President for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitor Bureau. 

Hathcock says "Capitol Cool" will be so much more than advertisements on billboards and at events; the new campaign will help heat up the local economy, and may even become an area catch-phrase. 

“We can make ‘Capital Cool’ a verb, so like ‘that is so capital cool’ I would love that,” said Tousignant joking about the new campaign. 

Hathcock feels like more people will catch themselves saying “cool” more often. “You say it and you kinda laugh now,” she said.

 The city officially kicks off its first "capital Cool" themed party Thursday at the Alley station. Plus there are a number of other “cool” events in the coming weekends, like the Alabama Food Festival, Second Saturday and Jubilee City Fest.

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Anonymous said on Thursday, May 10 at 6:15 PM

Still nothing cool about montgomery...terrible schools...no lotto...low employment opportunities and pay

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