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Commissioners approve $40,000 county contribution to Destination Mansfield branding campaign
Summary
The Richland County commissioners voted to allocate $40,000 from county funds toward Destination Mansfield's community branding and marketing plan. The county's contribution joins a $50,000 City of Mansfield commitment and pending foundation and partner funding.
The Richland County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 21 to allocate $40,000 to Destination Mansfield to launch a community branding and marketing campaign.
Lee Tasif, who the meeting identified as heading Destination Mansfield, described a three‑year marketing plan intended to promote Richland County for visitors, residents, workers and business investment. "Every community must compete with every other community for their share of attention, customers, and investment," Tasif said during the presentation.
Tasif presented a first‑year budget of $96,250 and a three‑year total of about $288,750 for the campaign; he said the City of Mansfield has committed $50,000 for the first year and that Destination Mansfield intends to seek additional multi‑year funding from the Richland County Foundation and other partners. Commissioners discussed targeting, measurable outcomes and how the campaign would be evaluated. Tasif said the first year will be used to benchmark performance and adjust tactics based on digital metrics such as reach, impressions and captured leads.
Commissioner Tony Barrow moved to allocate $40,000 from county general funds, with the commissioners stating the amount may be spent across a three‑year period; the motion passed on a roll call vote with all commissioners voting yes.
Tasif told commissioners the campaign will direct two‑thirds of effort at external audiences and one‑third at local audiences, with the goal of increasing awareness and capturing contact information for follow‑up outreach. He said the materials created under the county's earlier brand work will be used and refined as part of the campaign.
The board recorded that the City of Mansfield's $50,000 commitment came from ARPA funds and that the county contribution will be drawn from general funds.
Background: Destination Mansfield said the county began brand development in 2019, paused during the COVID period, and now seeks to deploy the assets in a coordinated public–private effort.
