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Massena Town Council hires WPBS to produce commercial for airport

Posted 10/23/18

By ANDY GARDNER North Country Now MASSENA -- The Town Council on Wednesday accepted an offer from WPBS to make a commercial advertising the town airport. It will be marketed it in the Boston area and …

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Massena Town Council hires WPBS to produce commercial for airport

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER
North Country Now

MASSENA -- The Town Council on Wednesday accepted an offer from WPBS to make a commercial advertising the town airport.

It will be marketed it in the Boston area and Canada.

The board voted to accept Watertown-based WPBS’s offer of about $35,000, which was lower than Massena-based H3 Designs’ $43,000 offer.

Council members said they would have preferred to use a local company, but they feel their time is short and H3 came in with a quote $8,000 higher than WPBS.

"I want to local … but the local one's [$43,000] and the WBPS one is [$35,000],” Councilor Tom Miller said.

"All of us are in favor of using a local contractor whenever possible," Town Supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy said. “(WPBS) Seemed like it was going to be a whole different level and far less expensive."

He was referring to a sales pitch WPBS employees made to the board at a prior meeting where they outlined a television and internet marketing package for the town.

The commercial will also advertise Massena International Airport’s airline, which is now Boutique Air but that could soon change. The Essential Air Service contract, which subsidizes Massena’s flights, is up for renewal. Boutique and two other airlines have expressed interest in it.

Councilor Sam Carbone suggested whoever gets the contract should help pay for the commercial since they will likely be featured in it.

"It's their business as well. They're going to gain business from this ... they should also contribute to the commercial,” he said.