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Council approves $54,000 marketing contract to pursue New Mexico True co‑op funding
Summary
Council approved a $54,000 marketing and social‑media contract (contingent on appropriations and New Mexico True eligibility) to promote tourism, with vendor saying the state program offers a 2:1 match and the city would pursue co‑op funds.
The Ruidoso Downs City Council voted to approve a professional services agreement with a marketing firm to help the city pursue New Mexico True cooperative funding and provide annual social media oversight.
Matty Grama, who introduced the scope and identified himself as a local business owner, said the proposal splits the work into two parts: $36,000 to facilitate New Mexico True co‑op funding and $18,000 for annual social media management, for a total contract not to exceed $54,000 including gross receipts tax. "They will do a 2 to 1 match," Grama said of the New Mexico tourism program, describing how the co‑op dollars would multiply the city's contribution.
Councilors pressed the vendor about timing, eligibility and contingency plans because the city currently has outstanding audits under state review. A councilor said the incomplete audits could affect the city's eligibility for New Mexico True grants; Grama and staff said they planned to coordinate with the state tourism contact (named in discussion as Erin Lavin) and that the contract allowed the city to suspend or modify the New Mexico True portion if co‑op funding proved unavailable.
Staff explained the city would receive monthly invoices and that a $10,000 discretionary marketing line was included in the proposal for targeted local promotions. The vendor said it would also help build a standalone tourism micro‑site to meet New Mexico True's platform requirements and that the work could include emergency notifications and cross‑agency coordination.
After discussion of procurement language, billing cadence and budget sourcing, the council moved, seconded and recorded aye votes; the motion passed. Councilors noted the proposal is intended to increase the city's digital footprint and support economic recovery and event promotion.
