PDDG Design Notes – March 2026

ISSUE 074

March 2026

What Agriculture Taught Us About Marketing

March is National Agriculture Month, which is a great reminder that some of the earliest forms of marketing in America were created to sell agricultural products. Agricultural seed catalogs in the 1800s were one of the earliest forms of direct mail marketing, combining product listings, illustrations, descriptions, and ordering instructions, making them an early version of modern content marketing and mail-order advertising.

While the tools have certainly changed, the strategy has not. Clear messaging, strong design, and consistent communication still form the foundation of effective marketing. Today, that might look like a website, social media campaign, digital advertising strategy, email newsletter, or printed publication, but the goal remains the same: connect with people, tell a story, and clearly communicate value.

That is exactly what we help our clients do every day at PDDG. Whether it is branding, graphic design, website development, digital marketing, social media, print design, or strategic marketing campaigns, our focus is helping organizations communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively. Good marketing is not just about looking good. It is about communicating the right message to the right audience in the right way.

PDDG Marks Milestones with Town of Gilbert

This month marks two noteworthy milestones for our long-standing partnership with the Town of Gilbert, Arizona: (1) we are celebrating 12 years of supporting the Town’s economic development and tourism marketing programs, and (2) we recently completed our 200th project.

Our 200th project included the design refresh of the Town’s “Gilbert Next Level” print advertisement, which was most recently placed in the March/April 2026 issue of AzBusiness. AzBusiness, published by AZ Big Media, is a bi-monthly magazine that identifies and analyzes the trends and issues that impact Arizona’s business environment and economy.

Gilbert Next Level is an entrepreneur-focused initiative that invests in and builds the Town’s future talent pipeline through exclusive programs and strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing workforce capabilities through educational opportunities and supporting small businesses with ongoing community networking and technical assistance training.

Our partnership with the Town of Gilbert has included an incredibly diverse range of services and deliverables across both economic development and tourism. We are incredibly grateful for the continued trust Gilbert’s team has placed in us, and we’re excited for what’s ahead!

Talent Up Program Receives National Recognition

The “Talent Up Fairfax” Program, a workforce development initiative of Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, and Virginia Career Works Northern Region / The SkillSource Group, Inc., has been recognized as Virginia’s featured innovation in the “50 States, 50 Breakthroughs” nationwide showcase highlighting a single transformative public service project from each U.S. state.

This national showcase is a collaboration between Apolitical, the National Academy of Public Administration, and Humans of Public Service.

Launched in late 2023, Talent Up Fairfax addressed two key challenges: (1) connecting overlooked job seekers with high-quality career pathways, and (2) providing businesses with a low-risk strategy to expand their workforce. By Fall 2025, the program delivered 347 local employers engaged, 179 paid internships in high-demand fields, a $25 per hour median wage for participants, and a scalable model for “grow-your-own” talent strategies.

PDDG has served as the marketing agency of record for Virginia Career Works Northern Region and The SkillSource Group, Inc. since 2012 and supported all marketing, design, web/digital, and outreach needs to brand, launch, and provide continuous promotion of the Talent Up Fairfax Program and the subsequent Talent Up Northern Virginia initiative.

Click here to learn more about this innovative program.

Sac Republic Hiring for Creative Positions

Sacramento Republic FC stands among the top clubs in the USL Championship. Since its founding in 2014, the team has embodied the resilient spirit of California’s capital—setting league records, capturing a championship in its inaugural season, and igniting a strong regional passion for soccer.

The organization is currently hiring for multiple creative positions, including Director of Marketing, Senior Graphic Designer, Graphic Designer, and Video Content Intern. Based in our hometown and where our global HQ still stands today, we’re proud to support our local organizations.

Click here for more information and view open positions.

Photo courtesy of Sacramento Republic FC.

Which NV City Attracts More CA Residents?

The City of Reno may not have the global recognition or glitzy image of Las Vegas, but Nevada’s second-largest metro area is quickly surpassing Sin City in its appeal to California homebuyers.

Situated more than 400 miles northwest of Las Vegas—and just across the California border—Reno has surged in popularity among Golden State buyers, driving increased demand and pushing local home prices higher.

According to the latest housing data analysis from Realtor.com, in 2025, nearly 43% of online listing views to Reno came from users in California metros, the highest share in the data’s history dating back to 2019.

Click here to learn more and read the full story.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

IEDC Releases 2026 #EconDevWeek Toolkit

Since 2016, IEDC’s Economic Development Week has been a time to celebrate the incredible impact that economic development organizations and professionals have in their communities. This year is the centennial anniversary of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the celebration of 100 years of economic development, including recognizing the collaborations that drive innovation, growth, and lasting change in local economies, and writing the next chapter of economic opportunity across the globe.

Over the past decade, #EconDevWeek has become a widely recognized celebration of economic development efforts, amplifying the critical work of the profession through media coverage and millions of social media impressions.

PDDG proudly supports IEDC and the entire economic development profession via our long-standing partnership with EDOs across the U.S. Join us and IEDC in highlighting transformative efforts that have made a difference to the profession and industry.

Click here to learn more and to access the IEDC 2026 #EconDevWeek Toolkit.

Photo courtesy of IEDC.

PDDG Welcomes USCID to the Family

The United States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) has selected PDDG to design and deploy a new website presence for the organization, including a comprehensive update and overhaul of the existing website, reorganization of content and imagery, and creation of a microsite for the entity’s annual conference.

USCID is a nonprofit, professional society organized in 1952, whose multi-disciplinary membership shares an interest in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of irrigation, drainage, and flood control works; agricultural economics; water law; and environmental and social issues affecting irrigated agriculture.

Photo courtesy of USCID.

PDDG to Sponsor CALED 2026 Annual Conference

We are excited to announce our inaugural sponsorship of the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) 2026 Annual Economic Development Conference, to be held April 15-17, 2026, in Palm Springs, California. Although PDDG has worked in California’s economic development space for more than 40 years, this is our first time sponsoring this particular conference.

CALED supports its members through information, technical assistance, training, education, and research. Begun in 1980, CALED has grown to more than 1,000 members, representing cities, counties, state and federal agencies, economic development corporations, and the private sector.

Photo courtesy of CALED.

PDDG Remains Committed to AAED

PDDG is a proud member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) and is thrilled to continue supporting the organization. The 2026 Spring Conference will be held in Tucson, Arizona, from April 15-17, at the El Conquistador.

This year’s event will explore how place shapes opportunity, investment, and community across Arizona and beyond. From redevelopment and housing to infrastructure, placemaking, and site selection, this year’s agenda is designed to spark ideas and drive impact. Highlights include keynote sessions, concurrent breakouts, EDDE Awards, tours, and networking with leaders from across the AEC and economic development community.

Photo courtesy of AAED.