By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The Whitewater Community Development Authority (CDA), the appointed body tasked with overseeing economic growth within the city, has developed an operating budget for 2014.
The $137,200 budget for the upcoming year represents an increase from the 2013 budget of $103,803.
The CDA voted unanimously in favor of the operating budget at its most recent meeting Oct. 23, but several members discussed a desire to ramp up marketing efforts in 2014. Currently, $22,500 has been placed in the budget, and plans call for the number possibly being bumped up to $30,000.
The exact amount of the fund balance within one of the city’s tax incremental financing (TIF) districts will ultimately determine whether the marketing portion of the budget will be increased.
“I always thought we were too tight on the marketing side,” said CDA Chair Jeff Knight. “Even though we’ve approved our budget, I would like to be a little more focused with our marketing.”
Common Council President Patrick Singer, who sits on the CDA agreed with Knight’s assertion.
“I think we really need to start revving it up,” Singer said.
The marketing efforts could go toward promoting the virtues of developing businesses within Whitewater. CDA members also briefly discussed the merits of applying some of the funds toward a branding effort that would help in forging a clearer identity for the community. These funds can also be used to help promote on social media platforms which practically everyone is on in today’s day and age. There is social media marketing in STL companies that can be utilized for this, however, the city will need to look closer to home for marketing support for this type of project.
As an entity, the CDA operates with a small staff and has a need for a number of different amenities, ranging from office supplies to an internship program with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The CDA’s recent budget discussion was part of a larger-scale examination of the organization’s goals, moving into 2014.
“What you’ve set for goals and objectives is in line with what I’ve got,” City Manager Cameron Clapper said. “I’m excited.”
