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WVU Reed College of Media receives $250,000 AEP Foundation grant to expand community branding initiative

WVU Today

WVU Reed College of Media associate professor Rita Colistra is the principal investigator for an AEP grant that will fund students working in West Virginia communities to tell and “sell” their stories.
(WVU Today photo)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University Reed College of Media students will work with local communities to tell and “sell” their stories thanks to a grant from the American Electric Power Foundation.

The $250,000 grant supports WVU’s Community Branding Initiative, BrandJRNY. Students enrolled in specialized upper-level strategic communications courses will develop integrated communications campaigns for selected West Virginia communities within AEP’s Appalachian Power service area. Students will hone skills in campaign research, strategy, community engagement, budgeting, innovative storytelling and creating promotional materials, while they discover and decide how best to brand each community.

”The AEP Foundation is proud to support the WVU Reed College of Media to help communities promote unique regional qualities,” said Dale Heydlauff, president of the AEP Foundation and senior vice president of AEP Corporate Communications. “The Community Branding Initiative is a rare opportunity for college students to not only learn the art and science of building a positive image but also to execute it. The project is truly a win-win for communities and students.”

College of Media Associate Professor Rita Colistra serves as Principal Investigator on the grant and will lead the project.

“The AEP Foundation grant allows us to build upon our previous branding and engagement work in West Virginia communities, while providing innovative, experiential-learning opportunities for our students,” said Colistra. “This funding supports our efforts to build community branding curricula and gives us the resources to work with communities for a longer time period, which will improve the chances for sustainability and provide additional training and support to improve brand implementation.”

Read the entire article: https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2018/01/18/wvu-reed-college-of-media-receives-250-000-aep-foundation-grant-to-expand-community-branding-initiative

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