Council renews Cedar Park economic-development marketing and PR contracts after first-year gains

Cedar Park extended contracts to continue its economic development marketing and public-relations campaigns, staff told the City Council, citing early results that include national media coverage and a business prospect visit tied to digital ads.

Arthur Jackson, the city’s economic-development lead, framed the effort as part of a strategic plan recommendation to prioritize marketing. DCI representatives presented results from research, an immersion tour, a refreshed economic development website and a mix of Google and LinkedIn digital advertising aimed at both talent and site selectors.

Bonnie Bastian of Development Counsellors International said the campaign produced placements in national outlets and more than 26 million media impressions, highlighting a Fast Company feature on the Cedar Park library and Bell District as a notable earned-media win. Arthur Jackson said one LinkedIn ad led a business prospect, identified in staff materials as “Project Jetson,” to contact city staff and visit Cedar Park within months of the ad launch.

Council members asked about metrics and reporter visits; DCI said the first-year campaign ran about nine months so far, produced two reporter visits (they had budgeted for up to four), and that digital ads were performing well enough to sustain the campaign. Council approved the renewal motions and the associated amounts presented in the packet (digital marketing not to exceed $175,940 and public relations not to exceed $219,000).

Councilmembers commended the work and noted the refreshed website provided a centralized place for prospects and reporters to learn about the city.