Machesney Park approves $50,000 marketing campaign to promote local shopping

The Machesney Park Village Board on June 16 approved Resolution 30 R 25, authorizing a $50,000 marketing plan intended to promote local dining and shopping.

Kevin Sutter, the staff presenter, told the board the campaign is a two‑pronged plan: a year‑round social and digital media strategy plus a concentrated traditional media push during the holiday shopping season. The board approved the resolution on a roll call vote (motion by Trustee Bogie; second by Trustee Stromberg). The official record shows five ayes, one abstention and one absent; Trustee Wilson is recorded as abstaining and Trustee Rhodes as absent.

The year‑round digital strategy will use in‑house content and geographically targeted ads on platforms Sutter identified as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn; the staff presentation said some summertime videography and photography will be contracted out. The traditional portion is limited to roughly six weeks in November and December and will use television and billboard placements that, according to the staff exhibit, are intended to drive traffic to a village shopping portal listed in the presentation's exhibit.

Sutter told the board that traditional advertising is significantly more expensive than in‑house social media marketing and said the village will seek multiple proposals to obtain competitive pricing. Staff recommended approval of Resolution 30 R 25 and the board voted to adopt it.

The motion approving the resolution does not specify contract awards or vendors; staff said multiple proposals will be sought before any advertising contracts are executed. A timetable for contracting and launch was not specified in the record.