Dear Editor,
The Saratoga/Chamber of Commerce has benefited from the 2 percent lodging tax administered by the Carbon County Visitors Council’s marketing grant program:
Last year, over 180 visitor and relocation packets were sent by the chamber. The $6 postage cost per packet was reimbursed by the CCVC.
Marketing and advertising costs of $8000 were reimbursed by the CCVC for the Steinley Cup Brewfest, Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby and Encampment’s Copper Days Festival. The estimated impact of the 1,600 people attending these three events is well over $250,000.
Half of the chamber’s $10,000 annual advertising budget is reimbursed by CCVC. This budget is not specific to any event, but instead markets our snowmobiling, fishing, agriculture, quality of life and other aspects of The Good Times Valley.
We staffed the Chamber office seven days per week this summer and the CCVC grant program helped with employee costs. We helped over 250 people this first year on the weekends.
The Chamber recently pitched the Valley to a state association for their 2021 conference. The other communities vying for the business were Casper and Cheyenne. We were able to use the CCVC Sponsorship Grant to entice the group and as a result, were successful in getting this conference!
The Chamber’s mission is to: serve the Valley businesses and visitors to enhance our economic vibrancy. It is vital to our local economy that tourism is strong. The CCVC provides tools for our organization to use when promoting the Valley as a great place to visit or to start a business or to move a young family.
I urge you to vote “YES” to renewing the county lodging tax on the November 6 ballot!
Sincerely,
Stacy Crimmins
Chief Executive Officer, Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce
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