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Joplin approves $125,000 marketing contract to run EPA-funded recycling outreach campaign
Summary
Council approved a $125,000 contract with Affirm to manage a $1.55 million EPA recycling education and outreach campaign under a $2.355 million REO grant; staff stressed reimbursement timing and tight deadlines for creative and distribution work.
The Joplin City Council on Sept. 8 approved a contract with Affirm, a Wisconsin-based marketing firm, to implement the marketing component of a $2,355,244 EPA Recycling Education & Outreach (REO) grant.
City staff explained the grant has a city match and is reimbursement-based: staff said the total REO grant is "$2,355,244" with a city match of $615,244 and that the city’s out-of-pocket expense is limited to $160,000 because some match dollars reflect existing staff wages. Staff noted year-one work is complete and year two must conclude by May 31, 2027. "This REO grant is a total grant of $2,355,244," staff said.
Council considered Council Bill 2025-617 to contract Affirm for professional services at $125,000 to manage roughly $1.55 million in campaign spending. Drew Douglas and an Affirm representative described the scope: toolkits for schools, advertising creative, and performance tracking. "Toolkits could include brochures, refrigerator magnets that people put on their refrigerators that tell what they can and can't recycle," the Affirm representative said. Staff said Affirm will collaborate with local vendors for production and will provide regular check-ins and performance reporting back to the city.
Staff recommended emergency approval so the city could begin creative development and placement to ensure the campaign and reimbursements meet the grant-end deadline. The council approved the contract on an emergency basis, 9–0.
Councilmembers asked about budgeting and staff capacity; one asked whether the city has the up-front funds for reimbursement grants, and staff replied that REO grants are reimbursement-based but the city has budgeted for the contract and expects to be reimbursed by EPA. Staff said they will provide regular updates to council on campaign performance and reimbursement status.
