Madelia Area Redevelopment Corporation Uses Virtual Reality to Attract Businesses and Professionals to their Southern Minnesota Community

    MADELIA, MN, March 15, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Madelia Area Redevelopment Corporation (MARC) has just launched a 360-degree video that will be integral to achieving their mission to attract businesses and workers to their Southern Minnesota community. When combined with a Virtual Meetings app, the video gives Madelia a tool to interact with people without the need to travel.

Brent Christensen, President of MARC, was introduced to 360-degree video for economic development by his friend, Ron Kresha, COO of Golden Shovel Agency. Brent knew instantly that this was a tool that the city of Madelia needed to overcome challenges that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our use of 360-degree video and Virtual reality is going to set us apart from other communities," said Christensen. "This is something innovative and creative. It's unlike anything that any other town in Southern Minnesota has."

Golden Shovel Agency's PlaceVR division produced the video and has developed a Virtual Meetings App that will allow Christensen and his colleagues to meet with people wherever they are in the world. Virtual reality (VR) headsets not only make it possible to engage with people as if they are together in person, but the VR experience also has a long-lasting impact that influences the viewer in a positive way.

"When you view a 360-degree video with a VR headset, your brain responds in the same way that it would if you were in a new place in-person," explained Aaron Brossoit, CEO of Golden Shovel Agency. "The results of this intense brain activity is that the view remembers the message and is open to a next action, like having a virtual meeting."

MARC is collaborating with Golden Shovel Agency to create a series of three videos that they will use strategically to attract businesses and professionals to their community.

You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-cA4rSve0E

The Madelia Area Redevelopment Corporation (MARC) is a joint venture between Watonwan County and Christensen Communications Company. A not-for-profit corporation registered with the State of Minnesota, the mission of MARC is to help create opportunities for economic development in eastern Watonwan County through desirable business growth, expansion, retention, and attraction an in working as partners to develop a climate conducive to maintaining the quality of life in the Madelia area.

Golden Shovel Agency's PlaceVR is a full-service economic development firm specializing in workforce attraction for economic and community development. PlaceVR is a revolutionary new approach to economic development that harnesses emerging 360-degree video and virtual reality technologies to create immersive experiences that drive business and workforce recruitment. Our productions combine a depth of experience in both virtual reality production, marketing, and communications to bring to life an entirely new strategy or attracting businesses, talent, and visitors. Learn more at https://www.placevr.net

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