CEDC reports Packet Landing improvements, special-event and marketing allocations; plans marketing contract RFP

Courtney, chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee (CEDC), briefed the Select Board on the group's quarterly activities and several recently approved requests for public improvements and event marketing funding.

The CEDC reported approved funding for town-department projects and public-space improvements: $20,000 for Yarmouth Senior Center grounds beautification, $3,000 for conservation-land signage, and $37,720 for signs and benches at Chase Brook Park. The committee has committed $52,000 for Packet Landing improvements to reconfigure seating, add solar-powered workstations for device charging and increase public usability; the committee said it will work with town staff to align Packet Landing work with existing staff workloads and Bill Benetti's projects.

On special events, the CEDC's second round approved $40,000 for marketing for the Cultural Center of Cape Cod; $35,000 for marketing the Second Summer Cycle (a bicycle event to start and finish in Yarmouth's Smuggler's Beach); and $4,000 for marketing tied to the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce conference. The committee declined a $2,000 request for a one-week sand-sculpture display and deferred a $10,000 Edward Gorey House request pending additional information. The CEDC also redirected $23,000 within Chamber line items to support a roughly $40,000 Sand Sculpture Trail expense.

Courtney said the CEDC's major upcoming task is issuing an RFP to renew the town's marketing contract with the Chamber and evaluating what the town should receive in future marketing services. The committee continues to participate in the Mattakeeset utilization and MUC (Mattakeeset/Mock Urbanism?) processes and is facilitating public engagement with joint meetings and a paid facilitator.

Select Board members commended the CEDC for outreach and noted questions about detailed site plans (for example, solar workstation specifics at Packet Landing). The board asked for minutes and meeting materials to be kept current on the town website and encouraged the committee to continue reaching out to other towns for marketing best practices.

Courtney said the CEDC will return with more detail in future quarterly reports and that committee members will continue to engage in the Mattakeeset utilization planning and upcoming RFP work for marketing.