360 VR Immersion Video Introduced at IEDC 2017 Annual Conference by Golden Shovel Agency

    LITTLE FALLS, MN, September 21, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In front of an intrigued group of economic development professionals at IEDC in Toronto, Canada, Aaron Brossoit, CEO of Golden Shovel Agency, unveiled the PlaceVR immersive video technology. Viewed through a headset, or on a computer or through a smartphone these videos allow people to experience communities. And, in the competitive world of economic development, this technology brings the community to site selectors and business owners--eliminating the time and space barrier.

Brian Hanson, CEO of APEX in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, was the first Golden Shovel client to create a 360 VR business attraction tour. Known as a forward thinker in the economic development industry who is passionate about promoting his 10-county region.

"It's a great recruiting tool for our regional communities. When we're trying to recruit people from outside the area who are weighing the benefits of other communities, they can see what we have to offer without coming here."

Hanson envisions the virtual site tours will distinguish APEX from the competition at trade shows. "Say you're doing business with someone from Europe or South Korea. Chances are they may have heard of Minneapolis. They might know of Lake Superior but they probably don't know the region," he says. "You can pull up the VR video to show them and get them excited immediately about what we have to offer here."

Economic developers and IEDC participants waited in line at the Golden Shovel Agency booth for a chance to strap on the headset and goggles. Once the goggles were in place, the participant was directly experiencing the community and could look around and feel the environment.

"Even though the people only had the goggles on for a short time, the virtual reality experience will stay with them throughout the entire conference." witnessed President of Golden Shovel Agency, John Marshall. "I'd say we challenged some people's economic development marketing strategies today." To learn more about PlaceVR, visit the site here.

The IEDC 2017 Annual Conference will be held for the first time outside of the US in Toronto, Canada. The three-day event is packed with networking opportunities, breakout sessions and keynote speakers. For more information visit IEDC. https://www.iedconline.org/

About IEDC

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. http://www.iedconline.org

About Golden Shovel Agency

GOLDEN SHOVEL AGENCY is a Minnesota-based Web full-service economic development firm specializing in workforce attraction for economic and community development. The Economic Gateway Web system includes an expandable and on-demand content management system (CMS) and a robust social media implementation strategy.

MEDIA ONLY Contact:
Ron Kresha
Golden Shovel Agency
+1-888-266-4778
[email protected]

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