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Needles council approves $40,000 marketing contract after Chamber update

City Council and Housing Authority, City of Needles · September 7, 2024

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Summary

The Needles City Council approved consent calendar items that include a $40,000, budgeted marketing contract recommended by a selection committee; the Chamber of Commerce reported it is fully staffed and working with the city on a regional tourism and business promotion plan.

The Needles City Council voted to approve its consent calendar, including a recommended $40,000 marketing contract to help promote tourism and small businesses. City staff told the council a competitive process produced five proposals and the committee recommended the selected firm to implement the council’s adopted marketing goals.

Carrie Kraszewski, interim president of the Chamber of Commerce, updated the council that the chamber and visitor center are now fully staffed and are coordinating events and outreach with city staff. "We are finally fully staffed," Kraszewski said, describing plans for volunteer coordination, a State of the City event and fundraising activities to spotlight local businesses.

City staff told the council the marketing plan will focus on hospitality, retail and targeted high‑value visitors and that the $40,000 is already budgeted. Staff said the next step is a kickoff meeting to gather council input and begin implementing digital and regional outreach tools, including QR codes and website improvements.

Council action took place by roll call as part of the consent calendar; the motion to approve items that included the contract passed. No additional debate or amendments to the marketing recommendation were recorded during the council meeting.

The marketing contract is intended to support the city’s broader economic development work, which staff and an outside consultant said aims to attract visitors and new residents to stabilize the local retail market. The council set no additional conditions at the meeting; staff will proceed with the kickoff and return to council as required by procurement and reporting steps.