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Port authority approves publicity contract
By Ed Runyan
YOUNGSTOWN
The two new leaders at the Western Reserve Port Authority believe steps they’re taking to promote the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and Mahoning Valley economic development should be more apparent on the Internet and in port-authority publications.
The port authority approved a contract Wednesday of up to $19,000 to Keynote Media Group of Youngstown to aid those promotional efforts.
Rose Ann DeLeon, port-authority executive director for nearly a year, said Keynote was selected from among three finalists considered by the port authority’s administration committee.
Keynote will update the port authority’s logo to show that the port authority is focused on economic development and running the airport.
Keynote will also retool the airport’s website to provide better information to airline passengers and better explain the port authority’s economic-development efforts, DeLeon said.
Keynote also will prepare a 14-month marketing plan and is expected to complete these tasks by the end of the year, DeLeon said. Keynote is likely to be asked to continue to assist the port authority in 2011, she added.
Keynote was selected over two other companies because of its 30 years in business and experience in working with organizations such as the port authority, she added.
Board member Andres Visnapuu abstained from voting on the contract, saying he believes a broader approach should have been used instead of narrowing the choices down to three finalists based on personal recommendations.
DeLeon said port-authority chairman Scott Lynn and committee chairman Richard Schiraldi chose to narrow the field through recommendations of other Mahoning Valley economic-development organizations.
Meanwhile, Dan Dickten, airport director of aviation since March, said a new contract with Allegiant Air, which offers leisure flights between the local airport and Florida, calls for the port authority to provide $25,000 toward the marketing of Allegiant’s new flights to St. Petersburg, Fla.
Dickten also is working to secure $25,000 worth of “match money” from the local community to assist with Allegiant promotional efforts. Dickten said a YSU intern working at the airport has sent letters to various local companies asking for assistance with the project and has received $7,500 in offers so far.
The airport also is working on a new agreement with Sixel Consulting of Eugene, Ore., to continue Sixel’s marketing efforts toward securing additional air service at the airport.
The newest agreement will pay Sixel on an as-needed basis, the same as another consultant working with the port authority, Air Service Partners of Virginia.