SAFFORD — The Safford City Council unanimously became the second governmental agency to designate the Graham County Chamber of Commerce as the official destination marketing organization for the area.
The vote was a requirement of the Arizona Office of Tourism, which makes additional funding available to organizations officially designated by the local governing bodies.
“What it allows us to do is, any money that those entities give us for tourism, we’re allowed to double up with the state because we have a small enough population that they want to help out with those marketing funds,” said Vance Bryce, executive director for the chamber.
Bryce added that the Arizona Office of Tourism will also help the chamber craft a strategic marketing plan in line with the state’s plan, as well as make available a series of grants.
The Graham County Board of Supervisors previously approved the chamber as the destination marketing organization for the county, and the chamber is waiting to see if Thatcher and Pima will follow suit.
