Silver City – The Silver City Town Council on Tuesday approved a proposal for marketing services to be provided by Griffin & Associates, an Albuquerque-based marketing firm, tasked with branding and promoting Silver City as a preferred, year-round travel destination. The award-winning firm's proposal was recommended to the council by a lodgers' tax review committee, which considered three proposals before recommending Griffin. The marketing contract will be funded by the Silver City Lodgers' Tax, and Grant County will have the opportunity to participate in the process, said Alex Brown, Silver City town manager.

"I'm very excited to develop a cohesive branding strategy for the town, which we anticipate will increase tourism and support local business," Brown said. "This is a tremendous opportunity to work with a company that has a terrific track record in the area of destination promotion, and that is known for working closely with the community. This is a very exciting project for the entire county, and we look forward to hearing their ideas."

The Town earlier this month awarded $50,000 in lodgers' tax funds to nine local nonprofit organizations, primarily to support events which promote the town and help increase tourism in the area.
 
The New Mexico Lodgers' Tax was originally enacted in 1969, and gives towns and counties within the state the ability to create, impose and collect an occupancy tax for revenues generated within lodging establishments, including hotels, motels, cottages, bed-and-breakfast establishments and other lodging businesses. The Silver City lodgers' tax rate is five percent, which is received first by the state, then later dispersed to the town.

The following Silver City non-profit organizations were recently awarded lodger's tax for the current fiscal year, which began July 1:

• The Mimbres Region Arts Council received $3,000 for the annual Southwest Print Fiesta, to be held October 5-7. The event is designed to bring artists, collectors and art lovers together in celebration of the art of printmaking.
• Silver City Main Street received a total of $12,710 to support a number of events and promotions, including the Annual Lighted Christmas Parade, Taste of Downtown, scheduled for September 1; the 2nd Annual Urban Challenge Fun Run, held in February in conjunction with Territorial Charter Days; and the Downtown Silver City Guide and Map.
• The Silver City Arts and Cultural District was awarded $3,500 to support the annual Silver City Clay Festival.
• The Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society received $1,800 for Fort Bayard Days and the Fort's annual birthday celebration.
• Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society was awarded $3,500 for the annual Gem and Mineral Show, held each Labor Day Weekend.
• LGBTQ Grant County received $2,600 for its annual Pride Fest.
• Tour of the Gila was awarded a total of $10,000 in support of two cycling events, the annual Tour of the Gila, held each spring, and the Gila Monster Gran Fondo, which will celebrate its 8th running on Saturday, October 13.
• The Gila Conservation Coalition was awarded $4,050 in support of the 14th Annual Gila River Festival, scheduled for September 20-23.
• The Silver City Art Association was awarded a total of $8,340 to support the publication of the Red Dot Art Guide and the annual Red Dot Weekend at the Galleries, October 5-8.