SAFFORD — Six months into a new contract, the Graham County Chamber of Commerce gave the Safford City Council an update on its investment.
Chamber Executive Director Vance Bryce told the Council the Chamber was able to leverage the city’s payment of $160,000 for Chamber operations into more than twice that amount through a pair of grants — one of which from the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties will be used to purchase a second mobile stage for community events.
“Before establishing our current contract, predicting the extent of your investment was challenging. With the stability provided in our new agreement, we’re now in a much strong position to plan strategically and successfully apply for grant awards,” Bryce said.
Bryce also talked about the Chamber’s more than $10,000 investment in tourism marketing, including a new campaign to start in the spring introducing the area’s mountain biking opportunities to outside the Gila Valley.
And the Chamber has started interaction with the Arizona film industry, to market the area as a possible location for film and television productions.
Bryce also talked about the Chamber’s efforts in promoting and supporting local events; not just the two the Chamber itself produces — SalsaFest and the Spring Festival — but all events that draw visitors to the community.
Councilman Brad Hemphill said he was particularly pleased to see that the Chamber is marketing to outside areas and bringing tourism to Safford.
“I’d also like to say how much I appreciate the effort of the Chamber,” Hemphill said. “For me, it’s still money very well spent.”
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