It is that time of year, when the City of Carroll begins to review budgeting requests for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, which officially begins July 1, 2018. Funding requests from outside agencies have been submitted, and only two are seeking an increase over last year’s budgets. Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) has increased their ask by $1,250. The Carroll Chamber of Commerce is the other organization seeking additional funds. Program Director, Sarah Foley, says the $22,000 the city has provided in the past has been instrumental in statewide marketing. She says the added dollars being requested will be used widen that reach.
The Chamber recently launched the #ChooseCarroll campaign, encouraging others to look to Carroll for all of their needs. Foley says they want to extend this, urging others to choose Carroll for their travel as well.
They will focus on Carroll’s amenities in shopping, dining, recreation and more. They will also look at ways to promote the community for businesses and meetings and will work to create day-trip and weekend itineraries for visitors. Foley says the ultimate goal is to position Carroll as a regional hub. The proposed breakdown of the additional funds would go to print, broadcast and online media as well as hosting a visit Carroll website, production of a map and support of the Carroll Visitor Guide. Coming in at an estimated $19,250, council member Carolyn Siemann asked Foley why the print portion of this budget was so heavy and up over $10,000 from last year’s budget request.
Foley adds there were increases in ad rates as well. Several of these publications cost thousands of dollars for just six issues throughout the year, and Siemann asked if they were seeing a return.
There will be no action on the proposed increase in the marketing budget until later in the process next year.
