Kennett City meeting approves $600 tourism-tax allocation for summer advertising; chamber pursuing two state tourism grants

Meeting participants approved a $600 allocation from Kennett City tourism tax funds to support summer advertising after the chamber described two applications to the Missouri Division of Tourism.

The chamber representative said the organization is applying for two grants from the Missouri Division of Tourism: a marketing matching grant, described as covering 50% of advertising in magazines and other outlets, and a marketing platform development grant to develop a new logo. The representative said the awards announcement for the marketing platform development grant will be June 15 and that they had heard the chamber was accepted for next year’s marketing matching grant.

The chamber representative requested an allocation of $675 from tourism tax funds for summer advertising, specifically naming placements in “Showman's or a magazine.” A motion was made and seconded for an allocation described in the meeting as $600 from tourism tax funds; attendees voted in favor and the motion passed. The meeting record did not provide a roll-call or named vote tally.

The chamber representative said the matching grant will make local tourism funds “go a whole lot further in doing advertising.” The meeting did not specify exact ad placement dates, the final vendor, or a timeline for when advertising will run.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the chamber will proceed with grant applications and the local allocation; further advertising details and vendor selection were not specified during the discussion.