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Friday, July 13, 2012 | 6:05 p.m.
Gov. Brian Sandoval says he knows there will be some concern with the state awarding a $3 million contract to an out-of-state firm to increase tourism in Nevada.
But he says the 19 companies, 11 of them from outside Nevada, were graded fairly in selecting Burson-Marsteller of New York City to promote the marketing campaign for Nevada's museums, art offerings and Native American experiences.
The selection committee did "a great job" in unanimously choosing the company that has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, he said.
State Purchasing Director Greg Smith and Claudia Vecchio of the state Commission on Tourism briefed the state Board of Examiners that approved the proposed contract.
Smith said Burson-Marsteller will have to come into the state "and learn about it." The company will bring some fresh eyes in promoting Nevada, said Smith. And the state will be working with the branch offices of the company in California.
The selection process was almost like the Miss America contest, said Smith.
The tourism commission ended its contracts with private firms in 2009 because of the budget crunch, and the selection of this company will help draw visitors to Nevada, said Smith and Vecchio.
The selection committee was composed of tourism experts, said the two state officials. And Burson-Marsteller gained a perfect score, the two said.
Burson-Marsteller has 67 wholly owned offices and 71 affiliated offices in 98 countries.
The examiners board also approved a $22 million contract for the Department of Corrections to continue to care for and train the captured wild horses. The renewal contract is with the Bureau of Land Management.
Corrections Director Greg Cox said the inmates would learn to care for the animals and it would have a wonderful effect on the horses.
The site is at the prison ranch adjacent to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. An estimated 1,300 horses are at the ranch and some 70 are pulled out and trained at a time. And then they are put up for adoption.
Some 20 inmates work in the program. And the money received is used to run the prison industries program.
Hey, why not! It's the way Republicans do business! I'm surprised he didn't find an ad agency in China!
Good job, Gov! Good job! Glad to see Nevada comes first!
Oh and since the Sun didn't do its homework allow me to fill you all in:
Burston-Marsteller also has a political action committee. And, surprise surprise, gives the majority of its donations to Republicans. Never would have guessed! And, as Uncle Mitt would no doubt approve, Burston-Marsteller is a subsidiary of a company based in England.
So not only is the money going out of state, it's going overseas.
Great job reporting, Sun! Great job as usual!
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2....
Funny, also, the article didn't mention anywhere that is, in fact, a Lobbying and PR firm. Really? Couldn't find a better agency that deals with tourism???
"Nevada's museums, art offerings and Native American experiences"
Yes, indeed, throngs of Nevadan's are jamming the art museums, and art offerings, and buying tons of art. This is certainly worth attracting tourist to. It certainly can compete with those of California.
Let's also get those tourist to the reservations. Maybe while they are watching a Pow Wow's, and buying crafts, they can experience asthma, chest pain, skin rashes, just like the Southern Paiutes do from the NV Energy Reid-Gardner coal fired power plant. Don't forget to drink some of that "special" water.
Or they can travel to Elko for the big celebration there.
I wonder how many millions all this great advertising is going to cost the taxpayers?
How much real revenue is it anticipated to bring in to the art museums, galleries and Native Americans?
Is this a trap for the tourists to get them to the hotels, restaurants, and gaming tables. Of course.
What a sham!
Burston-Marsteller contributes to the political campaignes, then gets a perk of a contract for questionable advertising that the taxpayers pay for.
Seems like we could just pay the political campaigns directly and eliminate the middleman, maximizing the profiteering of the politicians.
Who are the people who come up with these schemes? How old are they?
Perfect Score, wow they must really be good, how many Nevadains do they intend to hire? How much of this contract will be brought back to Nevada in production, art direction, printing, film services? I guess Nevada is truly the talentless wasteland our state purchasing department and governors office thinks it is. Personally I work with highly creative people here in both Reno and Las Vegas. How much worse is the next lowest scoring company from Nevada? Does the contract include a sub contacting set aside for woman owned or minority companies from NEVADA? Do the tax payers in Nevada accepts that our money leaves this state. Fair selection is subjective, big ad agency better, big government better, small business can rot in this state. This sure makes the smaller business I work for want to hire more Nevadains, NOT. Guess we need to open an out of state office and lay off some Nevada workers. With the raise in business fees, taxes, waters bills and operational cost why stay here. Casinos use out of state vendors first, state and county use other vendors first. if this story was not true, you would think it crazy. I love this state, it's people and used to love it's freedom and opportunity of 30 years ago, heck I guess 30 years is long enough to live anywhere. Shame on you Sandoval ! On the lighter side, 22 million for Horses and Inmates. how much for Nevada small business. How many more employees could we hire if we could get a loan for two million dollars to grow..Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Heck, Reid, Sandoval, Obama . Sorry no sale! It's ok to be too big to fail, but not ok to be small enough to grow.... Hmm both dems and republicans .... Very political bi-polar.
Nevada has "art" above the kindergarten class level?
Look on the bright side - Burson Marsteller has a California office. So their travel expenses will not add another half a mil to travel to Nevada. However, account executives will insist upon staying in Las Vegas for a several weeks to familiarize themselves with Nevada. So add in half a mil for expense accounts!!
Smith said Burson-Marsteller will have to come into the state "and learn about it."
This one simple statement should show that Smith and Vecchio should be run out of Nevada. A huge problem in this state is the fact that gaming companies and our local government go out of state with contracts and jobs. I see it in my industry everyday and there are several companies and employees here in our state that are more than qualified to do the job. Sandoval and those other two bozo's should be run through the mud for this decision.
Hey Governor, Smith, Vecchio: Bad decision, extremely poor judgement. You should be ashamed!
New York City? Get a rope!
This just goes to show how far out of touch Sandavol and his munchkins are. If he spent a little more time being governor and less time hiding in Vegas he might start to understand what the job entails.
Sandoval is doing what Republicans do - outsourcing jobs.
If that bothers you, vote accordingly this fall.