SELECTED WORKS
GOVERNMENT BRANDING
Sometimes the city needs to come alive.
Department of Here worked with New York City Transit to reposition the agency and highlight how it shapes the city’s culture, shape, and future. The project used the ancient and ingrained PA system as the voice of the city and included celebrity cameos from iconic New Yorkers such as Jerry Seinfeld, Jadakiss, and Desus & Mero.
C SUITE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Department of Here's partner Jon Romano worked with Deborah Harmon, CEO of Artemis Real Estate Partners on creating a differentiated story for her company and herself and receiving the attention she deserved. The work resulted in a New York Times Corner Office feature.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ENTITLEMENTS
As a part of the NYC Parks Department, Department of Here's Lev Kushner spearheaded the full entitlement of the new Yankee Stadium and adjacent parks in the contentious South Bronx, crafting a story of neighborhood renewal via new flagship parks and community design initiatives. The project achieved full approval in under 18 months.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
If you want government to catalyze innovation, you have to shake things up.
In December 2015, Department of Here's Jon Romano helped develop and execute a first-of-its-kind $50 million federal grant known as the Smart City Challenge at USDOT. The grant sought ideas for an integrated, smart transportation system to move people and goods more quickly, cheaply, and efficiently. The challenge generated an overwhelming response: 78 applicant cities applied.
PLACEBRANDING
In partnership with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, the capital region's chamber of commerce, Department of Here wrote the narrative framing for the region's bid for Amazon's second HQ, marrying the area's agricultural roots, strong universities and research infrastructure, and its culture of seeing projects through to the finish.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS
Even small states can become internationally known with the right partnerships. Working with the Democratic Governors Association, Department of Here's Jon Romano launched an annual program to build and cultivate relationships with key political and business leaders in Israel to spur international economic development opportunities and partnerships. The trip finalized a cooperation agreement between the State of Rhode Island and Ben Gurion University’s Advanced Technology Park.
Department of Here worked with us to find and tell the story beyond the numbers. Their work helped us secure better, higher-paying tenants and increase the overall project value. And they were a blast to work with.
DANNY GOLDBERG, PRINCIPAL
LONG MARKET PROPERTY PARTNERS
Department of Here was fantastic. They knew exactly how to help us and our partners tell the stories that reflect what we're all about. They made everyone feel comfortable and it was way more fun and energizing than we expected.