CLEVELAND — Chad Edwards became East Palestine’s Village Manager months after the derailment. He’s working on changing the image of the town.

“We’re trying to get a marketing brand for our village so that people will want to come here,” Edwards said. 

To do that, the village has hired WRL Advertising in Canton to help make new websites for the town.

And they’re making a promotional video. Edwards said the village picked the firm, but Norfolk Southern will pay WRL’s bill for its services. Edwards said the village is also making new Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn accounts. 

“The message is that life here is normal,” Edwards said. “And that we’re making progress every day and that it’s okay to come here, it’s safe to come here. It’s safe to do business here.”

The goal of the website is to improve communication about the latest happenings in East Palestine, and not just about the derailment. Mayor Trent Conaway admitted communication needed improvement.

“It’s been ok,” Conaway said during a campaign interview. “It definitely could be better.”

Edwards said the derailment likely exposed the town’s shortcomings in reaching residents.

“The other towns that I worked in which were relatively small in size,” Edwards said. “I do believe if something like this would have happened in any of those towns. It would be the same. It would have been very similar. It would have exposed deficiencies and communication would almost certainly be one.”

Edwards said the site will highlight how the town is recovering and he will use it to shine a spotlight on businesses like Kat’s Krystals right across from the village hall.

Edwards said businesses suffered because of the derailment and said they deserve recognition for sticking through it.

“The village of East Palestine has been through a lot,” Edwards said. “And I think it’s only fair that we draw some attention to some of the really wonderful things that are going on here. And Kat’s is one of them.”