CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The city of Clarksville was already reaping rewards from a nearly two-year agreement with a public relations firm. The basic advertising can be a sign of good things to come.
This forward style of marketing was bringing business to the downtown district with unique shops and unique earnings.
Sales tax revenues in Clarksville were actually up $323,000 this July and August combined over last July and August.
Paige King got a customer in her downtown store thanks to the posted invite on the interstate.
"The sign on the interstate let her know that when she got off, there was more to see. And so, she pursued it, came downtown today, fell in love with the store. I'm sure we'll be seeing a little bit more of her," said King,
The mayor and city council are pushing the idea of re-vitalizing downtown and also marketing the municipality.
"I like the mix of stores and restaurants that we've seen - just in the last 30 minutes," said first time visitor to Clarksville Ellen Cloyed.
The signs, along Interstate 24, were installed this summer at exit 11 and exit 4.
Clarksville's got a relatively new communications committee in the city and was working closely with MMA, a marketing firm out of Cookeville to get its name out there.
The initiative was all part of a major push to make Clarksville a destination city and not just a stop on the way to Nashville.
You can also check-out a city of Clarksville billboard along the interstate. The smaller signs do carry annual fees, but city officials said it was an expenditure that was well worth it.
