The Gardner City Council approved a $150,000 agreement with the Gardner-Edgerton chamber of commerce for business and tourism services during a council meeting Jan. 7.
The agreement, which will run through the year, is $115,000 more than the $35,000 the chamber received from the city last year.
According Mathew Wolff, finance director, the increased budget allocation will fund tourism services for the community.
He said the funding will in part be drawn from transient guest tax revenue the city will get once the Hampton Inn opens later in the year.
“The city shall pay the chamber the sum of $115,000 for tourism services payable by an invoice schedule to be developed in conjunction with city staff after the Hampton Inn opens,” he said.
Wolff said the money includes $15,000 for recreation event promotion that will be used in cooperation with the parks and recreation department and the city’s communications manager.
Jason Camis, chamber CEO, told the council that the chamber will form a new tourism promotion organization in conjunction with the economic development council.
(Read more: Gardner News)