Economic Tools & Initiatives

First Impression Community Exchange (FICE)

A First Impressions Community Exchange Program is a beneficial tool for communities that are developing a vision and plan for the future, because it offers a fresh perspective on their community – an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses through a new set of eyes, from a first-time visitor. The program is a structured process that reveals a valuable and objective first impression a community conveys to outsiders, including tourists, potential investors and newcomers and retirees on a community’s appearance, services and infrastructure and helps communities learn about their strengths and shortcomings. The knowledge gained through a First Impressions Community Exchange can be the basis for positive community action, focused on downtown revitalization, tourism development, investment attraction, quality service improvement, or broader community strategic planning efforts (i.e. youth retention).