Maysville city commissioners approved a contract with a company called BLDG in order to create a marketing strategy for the city.
Jay Becker was present at the special meeting on Tuesday to discuss some of his ideas for the city and Mason County.
“Our goal is to help you define your story,” he said. “We’ll research and find little tidbits of information that we can use for you story.”
According to Becker, Mason County has a lot to offer visitors.
“You’re the first point touching the South and the first point touching the Bourbon,” he said. “You’re a river city. Millennials who are traveling are looking for experience, not stuff. You have that experience to offer them. They like three day weekends and this is a perfect three day weekend spot.”
Becker and BLDG will work with city officials and the advisory board for the Maysville-Mason County Industrial Authority to analyze everything Maysville has to offer and to create a brand story.
“He’ll be interviewing tons of people about what Maysville means to them and he’ll analyze everything we have and work to come up with a marketing brand for us,” Maysville City Manager Matt Wallingford said. “Right now, we just need a ring leader and he’s it.”
According to Wallingford, Becker was found through discussions about the B-Line.
“We were discussing Bourbon and the B-Line and his name came up,” Wallingford said. “He came to town and we set up a meeting with him.”
Becker said BLDG has worked on numerous projects over the years, including the Blue Horse brand for VisitLex in Lexington, branding for Troy, Ohio and with companies such as Kroger, Adidas, Proctor and Gamble and many others.
Wallingford said Becker and BLDG have impeccable references from all over the country and has lived in the area previously.
“When we met with him, he just blew me away,” Wallingford said. “He knows what he’s doing. This is what he does for a living. He has excellent references from all over the place and I think he’s going to be great for the city and the county.”
The contract with BLDG will total $40,000 and will be funded from the tourism budget.
Becker said he hopes to being work around the first week of November and expects the project to take six to eight months to complete.
During the meeting, commissioners also approved a resolution for loan assistance from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.
According to Wallingford, the loan would be used for a water line replacement project from the Simon Kenton Bridge to Sutton Street.
“We’re only going to accept a loan from KIA if it is forgivable,” Wallingford said. “If it doesn’t become a grant, we won’t take it.”
The commission also approved a grant application for the Maysville Fire Department to assist with the purchase of a new fire engine and equipment.