Golden Shovel Agency

Golden Shovel Agency is a full-service marketing and communications firm headquartered in Little Falls, Minnesota, United States, that primarily serves economic development organizations (EDOs), local and regional governments, and community development groups. Founded in 2009, the agency focuses on helping these clients attract new businesses, skilled talent, and investment to their regions. Unlike traditional PR firms that focus on product launches or corporate reputation, Golden Shovel Agency tailors its work specifically to the unique needs of communities and economic development entities, combining strategic communications with digital tools to drive measurable results.

How They Help Communities Grow

Golden Shovel Agency positions itself as a partner in economic development by integrating marketing, technology, and economic insights. Their core mission is to help communities tell compelling stories that resonate with site selectors, business executives, and potential new residents. They achieve this through a mix of strategic planning, digital storytelling, and data-driven campaigns. The agency's approach often begins with understanding a community's assets—such as available sites, workforce strengths, and quality of life—and then crafting messages that highlight these advantages. Their work extends beyond traditional public relations to include workforce attraction strategies, stakeholder communication, and investment promotion campaigns. By using tools like virtual reality and immersive video, Golden Shovel Agency helps clients create engaging experiences that showcase a community's potential in ways that static brochures or websites cannot.

Services and Specializations

Golden Shovel Agency offers a broad range of services that blend communications, marketing, and technology. While the agency does not provide a full list of every service, based on their industry focus and keywords, their specialties typically include:

• Economic development strategic marketing and campaign development
• Website design and web development for community and economic development organizations
• Virtual reality (VR) and immersive video production for site selection marketing
• Lead generation and B2B marketing to attract businesses and investors
• Social media marketing and content management
• Strategic planning and consulting for economic development initiatives
• Community engagement and stakeholder communication strategies
• Investment promotion campaigns and business attraction programs
• Workforce attraction strategies and talent recruitment marketing
• Digital marketing and online economic development platforms

A notable aspect of their service offering is the development of specialized platforms such as Economic Gateway, a tool designed to help communities manage their economic development data and marketing efforts, and PlaceVR, which leverages virtual reality to give site selectors and potential residents immersive tours of a community. These proprietary tools set Golden Shovel Agency apart from generalist marketing firms and demonstrate their deep commitment to the economic development sector. The agency's work has been recognized with industry awards, including Gold IEDC Awards for outstanding websites and marketing campaigns, underscoring their effectiveness in this niche.

Location and Operational Model

Based in Little Falls, Minnesota, United States, Golden Shovel Agency operates with a team of approximately 29 employees under a virtual model that emphasizes flexibility, communication, and accountability. This structure allows them to serve clients globally while maintaining a strong connection to their Midwestern roots. Being situated in a smaller city like Little Falls gives the agency firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities that many of their clients face—communities striving to grow their economies while preserving local character. The virtual model also enables them to attract talent from across the country, bringing diverse perspectives to their work. Despite their remote operations, Golden Shovel Agency maintains a physical headquarters address at 43 E Broadway in Little Falls, which serves as a hub for client meetings and team gatherings.

Who Is a Good Fit for Golden Shovel Agency?

Golden Shovel Agency is an excellent fit for economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, regional development commissions, and government entities looking to enhance their marketing and communications efforts. Communities seeking to attract new businesses, workforce, or investment—but lacking the internal expertise or resources to execute sophisticated campaigns—will find particular value in their services. The agency is also well-suited for clients who want to leverage cutting-edge technology like virtual reality or immersive video to stand out in a competitive site selection landscape. Because of their specialized focus, Golden Shovel Agency may be less ideal for startups, consumer brands, or nonprofits outside the economic development space. However, for any organization whose primary goal is community growth and economic vitality, this Little Falls-based agency offers a proven, award-winning approach to public relations and communications.