Norwalk Now “Market Your Business – Power the City”

September 4, 2019, Norwalk, CT: Norwalk Now, originally launched in October 2017, recently announced its enhanced business model which focuses on small businesses throughout Norwalk, including restaurants, retailers, attractions, arts and entertainment, and lifestyle businesses. Norwalk Now serves as a marketing tool to ensure that businesses have the City’s support, at no cost. The goal is to promote the City of Norwalk, as a whole, and to increase neighborhood vitality and the quality of life for all residents.
 
“We are proud to showcase Norwalk – a City on the rise. Norwalk Now is a great partnership between the City and businesses, and it continues to grow. No other community has this type of platform freely available and it shows how much Norwalk cares about and invests in businesses. I think the public and business community will be really impressed with the new website and what Norwalk Now can offer.” – Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling
 
Norwalk Now is a free service with funding provided by founding sponsor, the Norwalk Parking Authority spearheaded by Kathryn Hebert, Director of Transportation, Mobility, and Parking, with additional support from the City of Norwalk’s Business Development and Tourism Department. Norwalk Now is managed by MaxEx Public Relations, LLC and now falls within Norwalk’s Economic and Community Development Department. New technology partner, GoNation, is behind the innovative high-tech website which features a real-time calendar and business data powered by the businesses themselves.

 
“In 2017, after considerable research, program development, and management screenings were conducted, Norwalk Now took flight,” says Dick Brescia, Norwalk Parking Authority Chairman. “We are pleased that Norwalk Now is a key component of the new Economic and Community Development Department’s broader vision for its role within the City.”
 
Norwalk Now benefits to business owners include; real-time event calendar presence; postings on Norwalk Now social media platforms; inclusion in broad-based email marketing; media exposure opportunities; participation in Norwalk Now produced events; promotional support for self-produced neighborhood events; and collaborative marketing. Since its inception, consumer reach of the Norwalk Now brand continues to grow. An impressive social media following, massive media exposure for its businesses, and website traffic from both regional and national audiences and outlets have provided Norwalk Now with a solid foundation from which to enter into its next phase. 
 
“We are excited about the increased scope and scale of Norwalk Now. It is important for us to support businesses of all shapes and sizes and to tell people far and wide about all of the amazing things Norwalk has to offer,” says Jessica Casey, Chief of Economic and Community Development with the City of Norwalk.

 
The new website is driven by real-time data and extensive back-end capabilities, resulting in wide-ranging Search Engine Optimization (SEO), as well as a visually stunning and advanced consumer-friendly website and information hub. The site features a real-time calendar page, a Norwalk Now calendar page, news platform, social media feed, Park & Ride information, and free designated business pages. Organized by categories and neighborhoods, the user-friendly website is built with the intention of future growth.
 
“We are so appreciative to those businesses that came on board when we first proposed this ambitious project to them. Norwalk Now had to start somewhere, and it started with just 30 open-minded business owners,” reflects Linda Kavanagh, Director of Norwalk Now. “A few Norwalk City Hunt adventures later, some great achievements, on-going research and analytics, and the recognition of several learning curves, here we are - ready to begin a new chapter.”
 
View the new Norwalk Now website at norwalknow.org and be social @norwalknow
Be a part of Norwalk Now: discover@norwalknow.org