Military Learning Center Tampa Bay - HCP Associates - Tampa Research, Strategy, and Marketing Firm

Veterans Memorial Park & Museum / Military Learning Center of Tampa Bay

Client: Military Learning Center of Tampa Bay
Industry: Destination Marketing/Hospitality

Challenge:

Hillsborough County’s Veterans Services, in partnership with the Veterans Memorial Park and Museum Committee, Inc. (VMPMC), needed help in planning the next phase of the County Park, which is dedicated to Hillsborough County Veterans.

Solution:

HCP met with several military community stakeholders to better understand what was accessible to them, most notably Veterans. Research uncovered a void of consolidation among many service providers such as education, financial literacy, financing, legal, mental health, and many more. HCP expanded its search throughout the state of Florida and developed analysis detailing the various organizations and services offered throughout the state of Florida. Upon completing the work, a gap in services existed that brought a centralized regional approach to serving veterans. This regional approach was adopted, and HCP developed the name and brand, which is now the Military Learning Center of Tampa Bay (MLCTB).

According to Hillsborough County, the region is home to more than 94,000 veterans and is the second-largest in the state and quickly approaching number one. The new service center will result from a unified effort by veteran advocates, the Hillsborough County Government, and the State of Florida. The $1.8 million project is funded with $300,000 in County Capital Improvement Program funds and a $1.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The 8,000-square-foot Center will be the new home for the County’s Consumer & Veterans Services and will include a multi-purpose room for training sessions and special events.

The MLCTB is located at Hillsborough County’s Veterans Memorial Park on State Road 301. The park is centrally located with easy access to I-4 and I-75. The park is home to the Veterans Memorial Museum, numerous Military Monuments, and the newly constructed Veterans Resource Center. Additional development will take place in 2020, adding more space for the MLCTB.

HCP finalized the marketing strategy and rolled out the newly developed MLCTB brand, website, videos, and social media accounts.