STEADY CRISIS COUNSEL WHEN IT MATTERED MOST
During a year of heightened public attention, a municipal government required clear, coordinated communications around public safety, workforce challenges, economic development priorities, and emergency response. Milan Public Relations partnered with city leadership to provide strategic communications counsel during both routine operations and high-pressure moments, including a major natural disaster.
The Challenge
COMMUNICATING CLEARLY UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY
City leadership faced overlapping challenges that required careful, consistent communication. These included heightened attention around public safety and staffing, ongoing economic development initiatives, and evolving emergency response situations. The complexity was not a single crisis, but managing credibility, clarity, and alignment across departments while operating in a fast-moving media environment.
Services Provided
Strategic communications counsel
Media outreach support
Public safety and economic development messaging
Crisis and emergency communications advising
The Strategy
SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE
Milan Public Relations provided ongoing strategic counsel to help city leadership navigate public-facing communications throughout the year. Drawing on a newsroom-trained approach and Milan’s Crisis Response Blueprint, we supported leaders with message development, media readiness, and coordinated communications across departments. This included advising on emergency response communications during severe weather events, as well as guidance around workforce, public safety, and economic development messaging during periods of increased attention.
The Results
TRUST BUILT THROUGH CONSISTENCY
The engagement strengthened leadership alignment across departments and supported consistent public-facing communications during multiple high-pressure situations. During the storm response, city leaders were equipped with timely, coordinated messaging that helped preserve public trust and maintain clarity amid rapidly changing circumstances. The work reinforced the city’s ability to communicate effectively during both emergency response and ongoing public scrutiny.