Salina Chamber Proposes $400,000 Annual Marketing Program to City Commission

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce presented a proposal for a $400,000 annual marketing program to the Salina City Commission during their November 27th meeting. The proposal, introduced by Chamber Executive Director Renee Duxler, aims to establish an in-house marketing group focused on promoting Salina to visitors and potential residents.

The proposed program would include hiring three new staff members: a director of marketing, a web and graphic designer, and a photographer/videographer. These positions would be responsible for creating a comprehensive website and marketing collateral under a unified brand for Salina.

According to Duxler, the program would focus on improving Salina's digital presence, including search engine optimization, mobile optimization, and social media engagement. The goal is to ensure Salina's online representation is prominent and attractive to those searching for information about the city.

Funding for the program would come from multiple sources, with $340,000 proposed to come from transient guest tax revenues. The remaining $60,000 would be sourced from Saline County, the Salina Community Economic Development Organization, and Salina Downtown.

The Chamber's presentation highlighted the need for a coordinated marketing effort, noting that currently, various organizations in Salina are spending separate marketing dollars on individual initiatives and websites.

City commissioners raised questions about the proposal, including concerns about the use of transient guest tax funds for this purpose and the need for a clear branding strategy. The commission directed city staff to negotiate with the Chamber regarding the proposal and funding sources.

The city's legal counsel explained that any agreement would need to comply with state statutes regarding the use of transient guest tax funds. The commission expressed support for marketing Salina but indicated a desire to explore alternative funding methods and ensure accountability in the program's implementation.

No final decision was made at the meeting. City staff will work on drafting a potential agreement for the commission's consideration at a future meeting.