17 January 2014
Marketing and Communication Proposals Sought
Proposals to use about $100-thousand in hotel-motel room tax money to market the community to potential visitors are currently being accepted by the City of Florence.
The hope is that the marketing will help draw more visitors to the area and help boost the economy.
It’s a ‘winner take all’ request… City Manager Jacque Betz says that means one successful bidder will get the contract, rather than parceling it out in smaller amounts to different groups.
In the past, the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has handled the bulk of the marketing; that group does intend to submit a proposal.
But it’s not an automatic award as it has been in the past.
Betz says one reason is because of the amount. The 100-grand is twice what is being spent on outside-the-area marketing this year.
The city is expected to collect $250-thousand in room taxes next year… the other $150-thousand will be used by the Florence Events Center to fund operations.
Information on the marketing proposals can be found at the city’s website… they are due no later than February 13th.
(an earlier version of the story incorrectly listed the amount of room tax collections at $150,000 with $50,000 going to Events Center Operations. Coast Radio News regrets the error.)
Winter Folk Festival
The doors open at ten tomorrow at the Florence Events Center and by the time the weekend is over there will be ten different concerts; hundreds of shopping opportunities and a little home-made pie.
It’s the 2014 Winter Folk Festival and it features a broad selection of folk music; including two headliner concerts… the Brothers Four tomorrow night at seven… and former Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member John McEuen at 3:30 Sunday afternoon.
Festival Co-Chair Maire (mare) Testa says it will also be a “shopper’s paradise” with 37 different booths offering hand made wares like ceramics, bird houses, stained glass and quilts.
Amateur entries for the pie baking contest will be accepted tomorrow by ten AM. Following judging, they will be sold by the slice…. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Events Center.
Entry to the artisan and craft fair is free… admission is charged for the music… and the pie.
MLK Observance
Organizers of Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. observance in Florence have selected the theme of “Applying principles of civil rights to current issues and legislation”.
Three different speakers will present their thoughts in relation to that theme from one to four pm at the Siuslaw Public Library.
Jody McCaffree will talk about a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal planned for North Bend; Elsan Zimmerly and Ann Kneeland will talk about genetically modified food; and Paul Engelmeyer will talk about coastal conservation issues.
Organizers say a march along highway 101 will begin at noon Monday, but didn’t specify where it will begin.
Reedsport Business and Volunteer Awards
It is January and that means it is award season.
In Reedsport they are seeking nominations for a variety of community awards that will be given out next month.
The Reedsport – Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce will present the Business Person of the Year award to the member who personifies “good business through community involvement”. The Oscar Anderson Volunteer of the Year Award will go to the person that works for the benefit of the entire community.
Written nominations must be received at the Reedsport Chamber office by January 30th.
The awards dinner will be February 8th in Winchester Bay.
