By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – The Downtown Development Authority recently renewed its contract with the Wyandotte Business Association and provided a budget to perform event and marketing promotions for the coming fiscal year.
On Monday night the City Council approved a $40,000 budget for Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010.
Tina Kumiega, owner of the Victorian Tea Room and new association president, said the funding helps to offset WBA marketing programs and projects each year.
“These include the 3rd Friday Events, Cinco de Mayo, Ladies Night Out, September Harvest Shop Hop, Christmas promotional events, October Beer Bash and August Wine Crawl, to name a few,” she said.
One of the largest budget items provides for $9,000 for the printing of the Local First Business City Guide, which is currently being worked on.
“We were fiscally responsible with our marketing budget this year and made some pretty deep cuts,” Kumiega said. “We asked for — and received — 50 percent less than the previous year.”
The group seeks to use its resources to best advantage by sponsoring events aimed at attracting people to downtown businesses.
“The positive impact for our city will be increased awareness of what the businesses located in Wyandotte have to offer to our community,” Kumiega said. “Our ultimate goal is to get Downriver residents to spend their money locally, buying from locally owned and operated businesses, which in turn returns the money spent back into our community.”