Below is a proposal from the KPAA to be funded by the town. First we paid for upgrading the parking lot via the park and ride funding and now are continuously paying for maintaining it. Now the town is going to fund the operations???? Never mind that the town is already paying for personnel working at the KPAA.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE TOWN PAYING FOR THIS?
This is being discussed at tonight's Select Board Meeting. Chances are if no people show up the Select Board will move forward and commit the town to funding the KPAA and once it starts its going to be hard to stop it short of voting the budget down at "town meeting".
If you can make it tonight please show up and let your feelings be known .
Vito
To: Town of Killington Select Board
From: Killington Pico Area Association (KPAA) Executive Committee (President, Howard Smith; Vice President, Tracy Taylor; Treasurer, Vince Chiarella; Secretary, Mike Solimano; Seth Webb, Member; Chris Karr, Ex-Officio Member)
Re: Contracting Marketing & Special Events
Date: June 1, 2015
Background
The third goal of the Selectboard Strategic Plan is “Increase tourism, year round employment and support the growth of our tourism based economy”
The Town’s Economic Development and Tourism Commission Organizational Policy states, “The mission of the Town shall include, but not limited to, efforts to sustain and enhance the Town of Killington’s tourism-based economy, as well as to pursue other types of economic opportunities including diversification. These efforts may involve tourism promotion, advertising and marketing, special events, business retention, strengthening and expansion, economic diversification and community investment.”
Proposal
To help the Town build on its progress and further accomplish its goals, the KPAA is proposing the Town contract the management of marketing and special events investments beginning July 1, 2015. Specifically, we believe through the KPAA’s management, we can:
1. Effectively execute the plan in the 2015-16 budget and continue the growth that has been achieved in the last five years.
2. Increase our efficiencies as a community related to special events and marketing: By combining the KPAA (Welcome Center, Events, and Volunteers) and the Marketing and Special Events of the Town, we can find efficiencies with both staff and other related expenses.
3. Leverage the Town’s investment to attract more private dollars to Killington (thereby increasing investment in Killington): Using our regional merchant pass program and other assets, we will continue to recruit more private businesses to support events and marketing activities in Killington.
4. Open the Welcome Center 7 days a week (Currently it operates 6 days a week).
*Taxpayers will see no increase in taxes as a result of this agreement
About KPAA
As you know, the KPAA is a private, non-profit, made up of representatives from the Town, business community and Resort, that works to grow the tourism based economy through marketing, special events, and programming.
Leaders from the Resort, Chamber and Town collaborated to create it and combine their respective efforts related to destination marketing into one organization.1
We did this because after working together over the last six years, the Town, Chamber and Resort all concluded that the best way to continue to achieve our goals is to formalize our partnership and work as one organization.
The transition to create the KPAA occurred over the last 18 months. Working together we have accomplished a lot in a short time frame (both informally and formally under the KPAA banner) including:
Welcome Center Opening
Park and Ride Construction and Gateway improvements
Bylaws adopted (on January 6, 2015 to officially complete the transition from the Killington Chamber of Commerce to the Killington Pico Area Association)
Executive Committee elected:
o President, Howard Smith
o Vice President, Tracy Taylor
o Treasurer, Vince Chiarella
o Secretary, Mike Solimano
o Seth Webb, member
o Chris Karr, Ex-Officio
Regional Merchant Pass Program launched which has increased KPAA membership and ultimately increased revenue to our community
Development of a Marketing Committee to collaborate on destination marketing efforts this summer and beyond (Print Ads, Posters, online and grassroots campaign)
1 As you may remember, a report done by the “Strategic Marketing Group” in 2012 reviewed the various issues around our community’s work to market itself as a destination. It identified that our community as whole has not effectively leveraged other regional assets including the potential for additional revenues to support tourism development. One of the recommendations of the report was to create a regional organization akin to the Vail Valley Foundation and Stowe Area Association, which have been successful drivers of developing four season tourism in those communities.
Outlining a Strategic Plan, building on the Town’s plan, to focus on advancing the Region’s economy; enhancing members’ success; and ensuring organizational sustainability
Proposal Specifics
One year agreement (renewable) for the KPAA to manage marketing and special events program
The agreement/relationship would be similar to the Town/Killington Volunteer Fire Department agreement/relationship
o Bills would be paid by Town
o KPAA would bill against voter approved budget
Town oversight is built in:
o Town Manager is on the Executive Board
o Events Coordinator is the KPAA director
The goal for year one are:
o Execute the plan, grow the organization and produce solid results
o Generate more revenue through expanded membership efforts
o Plan for 2016-17 and submit a proposal for next Town Meeting day
o Consider a long term evolution to emulate a “Vail Valley Foundation” model and generate larger donor based support of our community
Next Steps
If concept is approved, we we’ll submit a contract for consideration
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