Kennett staff outlines marketing grants, new logo and $12,700 project budget to boost tourism

City staff briefed the Kennett City Council about planned tourism and marketing work, including two state matching grants and new visitor materials meant to stretch the city’s lodging-tax tourism fund. Staff said one approved project has a total budget of $12,700, requiring a local match of $6,350, and another marketing platform development grant has a $20,000 total budget with a $10,000 local allocation. The presentation described using a 50% state matching grant to pay approved advertising placements including print, billboard and radio and said staff plans new “welcome” packets in print and digital formats for visitors.

The briefing listed calendar events the city promotes — a May cook‑off at JC’s Park, an arts festival, a cruisers car show, a September Delta Fair (identified as the busiest month), waterfowl hunting season and a small‑town Christmas in December — and emphasized ongoing interest in agricultural tourism (calls each year about watermelons and peaches). Staff said the marketing matching grant helps the lodging‑tax fund stretch farther by defraying 50% of preapproved advertising costs and that the marketing platform development grant would likewise be a 50% match.

Council members expressed support for coordinating with event organizers to maximize grant funding and discussed setting aside advertising space to support a county museum when it reopens. No formal action or vote on these marketing items was recorded during the discussion; council direction was limited to continuing design of materials and pursuing the matching grants. The presentation noted the advertising contracts and specific, preapproved ads are included in the meeting packet.

Ending: Staff said it will continue work on the logo and welcome materials, pursue the state matching grants and coordinate with event organizers; the city will return with drafts and any necessary contract or budget items for future council approval.