Experience Fayetteville authorizes major marketing and PR contracts; $700,000 marketing contract and $86,000 PR retainer approved

Experience Fayetteville commissioners authorized two vendor agreements: a marketing services contract at $700,000 and a three-year public-relations client services agreement at roughly $86,000.

Staff explained the marketing contract had been negotiated down from an earlier $750,000 figure to $700,000 and that $50,000 of the total would be reserved to hire local creative contractors. "I had actually did $750,000 total. We're actually gonna do $700,000 even with $50,000 being siphoned off for us to spend locally, with a contract employee," staff said during the presentation.

Commissioners discussed the selection process and cost differences among bidders; staff said the chosen agency offered the best combination of experience and price. The commission voted by roll call to authorize the CEO to sign the marketing-services agreement at the $700,000 level.

For public relations, staff recommended a local PR firm and explained the retainer would include trade-show attendance and other deliverables; the proposed retainer was described in the meeting as approximately $86,000. Commissioners noted the local focus of the PR firm and voted to authorize the CEO to enter the client services agreement.

Both actions were approved by unanimous roll call votes from commissioners present. Staff said the budgetary authorization and contract signatures will be reflected in next month’s budget documents and that vendor performance and deliverables will be overseen by the Experience Fayetteville staff.