New Initiative Combines the Resources of the City with Hard Work of its Volunteers
“Tucker Welcomes You Home”. That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? It is the name of a new initiative coordinated by the Tucker Lifelong Community, a committee of the Tucker Civic Association in partnership with the City of Tucker. In 2019 the City went through a branding process. Residents knew what made Tucker the best in city in Georgia, but city staff needed help sharing it outside the City. Branding isn’t just a logo or an image, it is the story of our community and how it is told. After months of community input and a special citizen committee, we were thrilled to unveil our Welcome Home logo featuring a community within a heart.
City staff wanted to share Tucker’s story and community with new residents especially, so a plan was created and launched in early 2020. Based on monthly house closings within the Tucker city boundaries, a welcome postcard would be sent to the newest neighbors inviting them to come by City Hall and pick up a Welcome Home package. A reusable shopping bag was waiting to be picked up, stuffed with a rotating selection of city branded items like a t-shirt, stainless steel travel tumbler, reusable white boards and more, all branded with the community within a heart.
But then COVID happened. As people sequestered to their respective homes to keep the community safe and healthy, the Welcome Home program screeched to a halt. City Hall went through periods of being closed to the public, City Council meetings continued but via Zoom, Main Street was quiet with the absence of the traditional street festivals and celebrations.
As people sequestered in their homes, many expressed their restlessness by moving. Sales skyrocketed leading to a shortage of available homes which translated to a significant increase in home values and prices. Tucker became a hotspot and buyers have had to compete to purchase a home and become Tucker residents.
In response to the number of new residents, Tucker Civic Association’s Lifelong Community committee discussed creating a welcome initiative. Remember the old “Welcome Wagon”? This is the same thought. Leaders reached out to the City to see if there was an opportunity to partner and “Tucker Welcomes You Home” was launched. Volunteers will go out and welcome new neighbors in person with a reusable shopping bag filled with information about Tucker and some City branded items to make them feel at home.
Stop by the City tent at Tucker Day on May 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and pick up a Tucker heart branded keepsake for yourself.
