The Montgomery County Commission voted to proceed with a marketing project produced by a private firm in partnership with the Montgomery County Action Council (MAC). The county’s share was stated as $14,650; MAC will pay a matching $14,650 and staff said the total cost to both partners would be $29,300. The motion approved proceeding if the total cost did not exceed that amount.

County presenter Jonathan Bu described the product as a short documentary-style promotional video that will be edited into a 5– to 6-minute short film for county and MAC websites and a suite of commercials for national television placement. Bu said the standard project timeline is “roughly 90 to a hundred and 20 days.” He told commissioners the vendor also acts as an advertising agent and that the package, as described to the county, covers production, rights and a nationwide distribution campaign. Bu said the county and MAC would “own” the produced material and that MAC’s executive board had agreed to share the cost.

Discussion among commissioners and MAC representatives focused on value and risk. Joe Long, identified as “the president of the board for Mac,” said MAC’s executive board supported partnering and that MAC had previously spent up to $16,000 on similar promotions. Some commissioners expressed concern about whether the quoted price covered both production and ad placement and asked for references from other counties that had used the vendor; Bu said he would confirm details in a scheduled call with the producer and would obtain references. Bu also confirmed the contract document provided was an agreement of understanding rather than a multi‑page contract and said he would seek legal review if necessary.

The motion that passed authorized county staff to proceed with the project and split costs with MAC provided the total cost did not exceed $29,300; commissioners recorded a yes vote. The county will confirm postproduction distribution details, any additional costs beyond the stated fee and whether the vendor’s advertising commitments are guaranteed before finalizing expenditures.