Ulster County committee approves tourism marketing contract with Medium Giant; campaign on hold pending contract execution

The Ulster County Legislature committee approved a contract to engage Medium Giant (listed in the package as Medium Giant Company, Inc. d/b/a Medium Giant) to promote Ulster County as an accessible visitor destination. Committee members discussed the contract’s timeline, accessibility goals, the role of a planned arts-and-culture director and concerns about bike-packing promotion and pedestrian safety.

County staff explained the contract and grant funding are administered as a state Economic Development Authority (EDA) drawdown. A staff member said the contract has been backdated to reflect work Medium Giant already performed preparing the campaign: "We have the contract backdated to the point where, like, medium giant developed that presentation, developed our campaign." The committee heard the campaign is on hold until the contract is fully executed and the county can draw down grant funds.

Committee members pressed staff on whether the new arts-and-culture director position will focus inward on residents as well as outward on tourism. Amanda (county staff) said she had not yet seen the position description but that earlier planning discussions had envisioned both internal and external responsibilities for the role. Several members also raised safety concerns tied to promoting cycling in a county with recent pedestrian and cyclist fatalities; one member asked that any bike-packing promotion be paired with a clear bike-and-pedestrian safety campaign.

The committee approved the contract by voice vote and asked county staff to coordinate campaign rollout with existing safety and accessibility initiatives. The committee also noted that some elements of accessibility work would proceed regardless of grant timing, while broader advertising depends on contract execution and grant drawdown.