Have you seen the new banners hanging from light poles throughout downtown Traer? This is the most recent advertising campaign from the Traer Chamber of Commerce and it’s called “Go Small Town”.

This project is an effort to promote the pride Traer residents have in our “small town” and to extend that message to out of town folks traveling along Highway 63 and Highway 8. It is estimated that more than 18,000 impressions (or pairs of eyes) move through Traer on a monthly basis – according to the Lamar billboard advertisers.

With this campaign, we’re hoping to change travelers’ current perceptions: “Traer is just that small town that I pass through on my way somewhere” or “I drive through Traer at least 10 times a week on my way to and from work. It’s a nice, small-town but I don’t ever stop. Probably not a whole lot happening there.”

We’d instead like them to think: “Traer may be small, but the community is thriving. I have a young family and living or having a business here might help us enjoy our life more. There’s always a buzz about the town. Festivals, great schools, and healthcare, lots of cool, little shops, and residents seeking a taste of a larger city just have to drive about 20-30 minutes.”

Traer is the perfect antidote to crowded big city living. It’s the little things that matter.

The light pole banner campaign consists of 10 rotating sayings: DREAM BIG LIVE SMALL; THINK SMALL LIVE LARGE; SMALL TOWN BIG LIFE; SMALL TOWN BIG HEART; SMALL TOWNS ARE SMART TOWNS; WE ARE SMALL BUT WE THINK BIG; WE ARE SMALL BUT WE STAND TALL; GO SMALL AND GO HOME; 1,701 PROUD PEOPLE AND GROWING; THE OFFICIAL SMALL TOWN OF IOWA. Currently there are 24 banners on display, however, we hope to outfit all 49 light poles in Traer with the banners and extend the influence of the campaign.

The Chamber hopes everyone enjoys this new addition to Traer and that it inspires your pride and support of our wonderful community!

And stay tuned…there’s more to come!!!