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College will help in effort to market airport [The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y. :: ](Post-Star (Glen Falls, NY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 23--QUEENSBURY -- SUNY Adirondack is on track to offer an airport-themed marketing class next fall as part of an effort to better market Warren County Airport. Members of Warren County Airport Advisory Committee who are brainstorming ways to increase the county-owned airport's visibility have been working with college officials. The committee is also working with a SUNY Plattsburgh business class that meets in Queensbury, with students in the class set to put together marketing plans for the airport as well. The best plans will be eligible for scholarships through Glens Falls Rotary Club and Warren County EDC. Queensbury Supervisor John Strough has been working with SUNY Adirondack marketing instructor Kelli Borgos Hatin to put together plans for the class. Strough said the college will offer the course over two semesters starting in September, with the first semester focusing on looking into recent marketing efforts at the airport and the second semester putting together a plan. "It certainly is low-risk and low-cost," said committee member Harrison Freer. The committee is made up of Warren County officials along with representatives of local pilots and the fixed base operator, and it was charged with finding ways to market the county airport and cut into its operating deficit. Some county supervisors have questioned spending at the airport. Committee members met with Jo Ann Benway from Warren County Tourism Department, who showed them marketing efforts the Tourism Department makes for the airport. The airport is included in the county "Travel Guide" and Tourism Department-created county map. The county has also advertised in trade magazines. "I didn't realize how much we do advertise the airport," Lake Luzerne Supervisor Gene Merlino said. "We do advertise in pilot magazines." Freer said events at the airport, such as a pilot "fly-in" scheduled for June 7, don't seem to get proper promotion. "There are things going on here that we haven't done the right PR for," Freer said. Merlino said a priority should be to include new video and photographic content from the airport on the county website. Freer said a social media presence should be a priority as well. "To not be on Facebook and Twitter in 2014 hurts," he said. The committee will give the county Board of Supervisors a report on its efforts at a Facilities Committee meeting on April 30. Members hope to meet with representatives of the college programs at the next advisory committee meeting on May 12. ___ (c)2014 The Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.) Visit The Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.) at www.poststar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |