One East Kentucky Targets Site Selector's Shortlist with 360 Video and Virtual Reality

PlaceVR is the Solution to Economic Developer Obstacles of Time, Cost, Distance, and COVID-19

One East Kentucky (OEK) has released a 360-degree video tour of Coal Fields Industrial Park that aims to attract the attention of site selectors and get Eastern Kentucky on their shortlist of prime sites for development.

The video, produced by Golden Shovel Agency's PlaceVR division, will allow the economic development organization to reach out to investors while travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic linger. It also makes it possible for them to target more international investors and then to meet with them in a virtual environment.

"We know that we need to keep moving forward, pandemic or not," said Chuck Sexton. "PlaceVR gives us the vehicle we need to reach and then engage with investors and move them towards a decision."

When viewed with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles, viewers feel like they're actually in the middle of the scene in the video. During a virtual meeting, participants can talk together and discuss specifics of the site as they play and pause the video.

"What One East Kentucky plans to do with their 360-degree video is exactly what we envisioned when we started developing this technology," said Aaron Brossoit, CEO of Golden Shovel Agency. "We've been developing our tech stack to solve the problems of distance, time, and cost for economic developers. Now we can also help them solve obstacles that have arisen because of the pandemic."

One East Kentucky is collaborating with Golden Shovel Agency to create a series of six videos and 3D building renderings that will market available land in industrial park sites and existing buildings that are for sale.

ONE EAST KENTUCKY was established in 2015 as east Kentucky's Center of Economic Development Excellence and is a 501(c)3 regional economic development organization responsible for spearheading the growth and diversification of eastern Kentucky's economic base through recruiting new industry, jobs, and investment to the heart of Appalachia. Since 2016, One East Kentucky has announced over 1,000 new jobs and $154.6 million in capital investment.

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 for attracting businesses, talent, and visitors.