For years, West Allis has been stereotyped as little more than a decaying manufacturing town with a bar on every corner and the site of the annual Wisconsin State Fair.

But city officials and business owners are working tirelessly to shed the negative image of Milwaukee’s largest suburb, which has a population of 60,000. Several years ago, West Allis hired marketing firm Savage Solutions to help give the city a facelift. The campaign, which has included print media, radio and web ads, was launched last fall. “It’s really trying to focus on the transformation we are seeing,” says West Allis Mayor Dan Devine, who was elected in 2008.