[09/06/02]An advertising firm based in the Delta pitched a four-month campaign to bring more visitors to Vicksburg on Thursday, and a private group, the Community Alliance, will attempt to decide if money to pay for the campaign can be raised.

The proposal from Coopwood Communications, based in Cleveland, was made at a special meeting of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau board. Many representatives of the city’s hospitality industry were invited. Also at the meeting, VCVB board chairman Eric Biedenharn outlined more of his ideas, including forming several study committees.

Basic to Coopwood’s plan as presented by Betsy Tabor was advertising designed to bring more people from Monroe and Jackson to Vicksburg for short visits.

Central to the campaign was a proposal for coordinated ads in the two markets using radio, television and newspaper.

Tabor and Scott Coopwood said the campaign would cost about $145,000 plus about another $45,000 to $50,000 to produce the radio and television commercials and print ads.

“We just want to show you what kind of strategic thinking we can bring to Vicksburg,” Tabor said introducing her presentation.

The program Tabor proposed would use toll-free telephone numbers so potential visitors could call for more information, making gauging the effectiveness of the program easier.

“We are not your ad agency of record, but we looked at your city and your market as if we already had a client,” she said.

It was not clear who asked Coopwood to make the presentation or whether other ad agencies may participate. The VCVB has already targeted ad campaigns in effect and operates a toll-free number.

In his remarks, Biedenharn, who has been critical of VCVB performance, suggested someone explore putting together package deals for visitors, including some for outdoor recreation such as hunting and fishing, horseback riding or Mississippi River boat trips including picnicking on the sand bars.

“We need more events and festivals,” he said.

Curt Follmer, general manager of the Rainbow Casino and chairman of the Community Alliance, agreed the alliance should host the next meeting to discuss how to raise the money for the advertising campaign.

VCVB executive director Lenore Barkley presented a proposed 2003 Plan of Work in August. It remains under advisement by the VCVB board, but there was no public discussion of contracting-out anyVCVB functions to Coopwood or any other ad agency when the plan was presented.