Corsicana, the only town in Texas in the Small Business Revolution competition, is in the final days to win. If you haven’t heard about this movement here which has inspired residents, friends and family to rally around this contest in the most creative and inspiring ways, you’ve been out of the country since November.
Hearing about some of the ways this town is getting the word out to vote – at
www.votetexas.us, confirmed for me the true spirit of Corsicana and Navarro County. The examples are numerous, each unique and fantastic. Business people are reaching out to their corporate offices, their bank contacts, their land developer friends, and their state and national connection. Economic developers, librarians, architects, web producers, caterers, transportation experts, front desk clerks – have seen the words Corsicana and Vote in the last week. Anyone can vote, no matter where they live.
Churches are including announcements every week. One with a digital marquee has the message blinking for attention every day. Our landmark business which made Corsicana famous for fruitcakes is beckoning travelers on state freeways to pull in, vote and get a free cookie.
Riders mounted horses for a ceremonial “Vote from the Saddle” event right in Downtown, headed up by our own former Texas Ranger and Henderson County Sheriff, Ray Nutt. Timbers supplied hot coffee, cornbread and more as their part. Parks and Recreation delivered custom-made hitching posts as their welcome to the procession.
Our City Council is working on regional and state government officials to ask everyone for their vote. The request is on the Governor’s desk right now.
Farther from home, those who have connections are using them. Leah Blackard arranged for our hometown celebrity, Terry Fator, to create a wonderful video, because “a vote for Corsicana is a vote for Texas…and for me,” he said.
You can see it here:
https://www.facebook.com/TerryFator/videos/386681078776071/
Robert Johnson has tapped his Hollywood group of directors, producers and stars who are actively posting and asking their followers to vote. Karie Denny’s connections with the photography world has an entire industry thinking about Corsicana in ways they never have. Travel journalists from New Zealand to New York are being asked to vote for Corsicana, a small town in Texas with a big heart, and the artists at 100W are reaching avenues only they can. The examples are as creative and passionate as the people promoting the idea to vote for Corsicana, at
www.votetexas.us.
One thing is certain: we as a small city will never be the same again after the competition – win or lose. We have entered into an enlightened time where we value our small businesses, our connections, and our possibility to craft our future how we want it. People around me have been saying that even if we don’t win this competition, we are better off having come together for it. As a lifelong competitor, I see things differently. Texans don’t lose very well, but we are exceptional at winning. Let’s win. Vote now. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday. After that, we’ll start planning our celebration.