Tourism Board reports increased revenues

V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute

Tourism continues on it’s roll of increased visitors to Jefferson with September revenues just under $3,000 over the same period last year and October revenues just over $3,000 from the same period last year.

“We’re bringing in more than we projected,” said CVVB President Colleen Taylor, “so the budget is healthy as far as we know.”

City reports have yet to be being delivered to the CVVB as newly hired City Secretary Melissa Boyd is completing her training.

Ellen Taylor requested that all events receive equitable support from the Tourism Board, citing how some events and organizations seem to receive more support in advertising than others.

Board Member Pam Thomas indicated she welcomed input from any event organizers and when she’s contacted she tries to work event into the existing schedules including web and other online promotions currently running.

Bob Thomas updated the board on the status of the “Historic Window” project. According to Bob Thomas, last month JEDCO approved up to $10,000 as long as there were other entities also assisting. He said the Schluter Foundation has now pledged an additional $10,000, so the project is 2/3 funded. He said he should be able to raise the remaining $10,000 to fund all six proposed windows. Some of those may include: the Brooks Hotel, the Pride House, Lions Club Park, and the waterfront. The project creates an etched glass historic photograph of the areas so viewers can “see” what it looked like in the past. A similar project is in place at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park.

Taylor said the City’s Music Friendly Community designation is in progress with Board Member Chris Bollinger heading up the committee. She said a conference call with representatives in Austin is being setup and that now they need input from musicians, potential members of the committee, as well as interest from venues around town. The planned meeting will be conducted via Zoom and is designed to help everyone understand what is expected and needed from them.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Taylor or Bollinger.

Pam Thomas said the new online marketing campaign in the Houston area is starting to show results as several groups from the area have commented they saw the material. She also indicated the City will have their regular ad running during the Summer Olympics on KTAL-6 in Shreveport.

The City’s Public Restrooms are getting a little more oversight and cleaning as Taylor has worked with City officials to identify areas to clean and update.  Taylor and the Board are requesting that City Council agree to lock the restrooms at 10 p.m. nightly to assist with vandalism there.

Taylor also said the tourism building has seen new rounds of vandalism in recent weeks with graffiti again being painted on the building. The City Police Department are investigating, but according to Taylor, without cameras the odds of catching the culprits is slim.

The City will be being represented at three trade shows in early 2022 as board members and public volunteers agreed to go and work a shift with North East Texas Tourism Council’s booth and promote the City. The City plans on attending the Ft. Worth Home and Garden Show in February; the Conroe Home and Garden Show in March; and the Frisco Home and Garden Show in April.

The NETTC will also be in Jefferson in January for their regular luncheon meeting. The meeting brings in tourism directors from member cities and counties and allows an opportunity to discuss options to better promote tourism in North East Texas.

The City’s membership in Meeting Planners International will see it’s first use in March as board members will attend the MPI March event. There they will present at a “boothless event” the opportunities meeting planners have to hold events in Jefferson. This will also start the process of getting the City listed in various meeting planning directories.

New events in town have the opportunity to apply for up to $1,000 in advertising assistance starting in January through the Board’s new event budget item. Taylor, Pam Thomas, and B.W. Brooks will be working on updating the Board’s application form.

Mayor Rob Baker brought up the directional sign beside City Hall and it’s need for updating. Taylor indicated she would look into costs.

At the end of the meeting, Bob Thomas asked if anyone had thought about or made a list of what’s needed for the visitors center building. The discussion was not part of the agenda, but Taylor asked if anyone had anything else.

“Who’s responsibility is it to sit down and talk about a wish list for the tourism building?,” he asked.

Taylor said she is working with a company to come in and touchup the paint, and that things like new tables and chairs are on a list but it’s part of the City’s budget items, not Tourism. She also said the Board is considering raising the rental rate to help cover these types of expenses, and that would be on the February Council agenda.

“I mean more of what’s the vision for this building?” Bob Thomas said.

“It’s a two part discussion,” said Baker. “One is the furniture, fixtures and what we upgrade or replace. Two is where do we envision this building going?”

“It’s more than tables and chairs,” said Board Member Paul Moorehead. “Until we address the issue of needing a custodian, who can setup, cleanup and check for things, we’re not getting anywhere. That’s our problem and it’s strategic.”

“There are different types of venues for different types of events [in town],” said Brooks. “With touchups, this is good for moderate events and the Carnegie Library and Jeffersonian Institute for upscale events. This is a strategic discussion that we need to have.”

Taylor added the building to the January agenda. The Board meets again on January 10.