The Searcy A&P Commission on Tuesday approved $13,750 for a citywide wayfinding sign plan and heard a 2027 tourism marketing budget that would grow about 44% as the city prepares to open its new attractions.
LISTEN to the full Searcy A&P Commission meeting:
Citywide Wayfinding Plan Approved
City staff told commissioners that Searcy’s $4 million RAISE grant is paying for the design of 21 miles of trail around town. That grant includes a wayfinding master plan for the trail system by Guide Studio, a company from Ohio that designs sign systems for cities.
The city asked Guide Studio what it would cost to expand that work to the whole city while the company is already working in Searcy. The answer was $13,750.
The plan would include community and stakeholder input, a hierarchy of sign types, a map of where each sign should go, design sheets, a cost estimate and a strategy to install the signs in phases. Commissioners would be invited to serve on the stakeholder group.
Staff said the company plans its 1st site visit in early December. Building the full sign system later would likely cost a 6-figure amount.
“Y’all are trying to bring in outsiders. They don’t know their way around town,” a city staff member told the commission. “It’s a good way to get those folks to the locations easier.”
Commissioners voted to suspend the rules and approved the request the same day.
Marketing Budget Would Rise to $247,690
Michelle Pugh presented the 2027 tourism marketing plan for Experience Searcy. The proposal totals $247,690, up from $171,937 planned for 2026.
Pugh said much of the increase comes from new efforts to promote Searcy’s new attractions, including the water park, the community center and the trails.
“We’ve never had this level of attractions to promote people, and now we actually have something to tell them,” Pugh said.
New items include:
- A content-only, magazine-style Searcy visitors guide for visitor centers across Arkansas, hotels and Harding University’s recruiting and alumni outreach
- 15-second, 30-second and 2-minute commercials promoting Searcy and each attraction
- 2 full-page ads in Bike Arkansas magazine, which featured Searcy on its cover this year
- An ad in the Arkansas Business meeting planner to promote the new community center as an event venue
- Placements in the Arkansas Tourism newsletter, which reaches 143,000 subscribers
- A boosted social media post budget increase from $12,000 to $18,000
Pugh also recommended taking a year off from a paid analytics program to free up money for other projects.
So far in 2026, Pugh said, the Experience Searcy website has drawn 56,000 unique visitors and 110,000 page views. Facebook content reached 4.5 million views, up 58%, and Instagram views rose 48%.
Searcy has also received $9,400 this year in matching money from regional tourism associations, Ozark Gateway and Greers Ferry Lake/Little Red River, and more is possible in 2027.
Some commissioners asked whether the increase would pay off and whether it would shrink in later years. Pugh said some items, like the commercials and visitors guide, would be used for several years.
The commission will vote on the marketing plan at its Nov. 17 meeting.
Events Request Funding
The commission heard 3 funding requests and will vote on them Nov. 17.
FIRST Robotics: Brian Jones, chair of the regional planning committee for the FIRST Robotics Arkansas Regional, asked for $10,000 toward event fees. The international robotics competition returns to Lion Arena at Searcy High School March 11-13, 2027. Jones said about 2,000 students, volunteers, mentors and spectators are expected, with teams from Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mexico. He said 25 of 30 team spots are already filled and estimated the economic impact at $110,000 to $150,000.
Arkansas USA Wrestling: Jerry Evans, Searcy High School’s head wrestling coach and women’s director for Arkansas USA Wrestling, asked for $4,000 to rent Lion Arena for the 2027 national team qualifying tournament. Evans said it will bring 300-plus athletes and 1,000-plus family members and spectators. The tournament has been held in Northwest Arkansas since 2008.
ArkansasRadio.com: ArkansasRadio.com: Bob Connell, CEO and owner of the ArkansasRadio.com radio stations, presented a monthly proposal to promote Searcy across the network’s 5 formats, 7 stations and 9 frequencies.
Connell said the package:
About 1 million gross impressions
25% of the cost given back to the commission
Commercial production at no charge
Connell said Ozark Gateway, 1 of the regional tourism associations, offers a 50% match that could be used for the radio messages.
He also shared the network’s digital numbers for ArkansasRadio.com the last 90 days:
755,074 website page views
679,528 unique page views
More than 900 local stories published, up to 12 a day
5.7 million Facebook views
513,000 Facebook engagements
42,000 Facebook followers
Website traffic tripled
Connell said the stations have done live broadcasts in 30 different cities and that Slim Chickens in Batesville had the 3rd biggest opening in the chain’s history after a live broadcast. He also cited national figures showing 92% of U.S. adults listen to radio every month.
“It is the network of all stations staying on the same message,” Connell said. “Now, we want to help put Searcy front and center.”
A&P Tax Collections Up
The commission ended September with $2.914 million in the bank, compared with $2.763 million a year earlier.
A&P tax collections for the year total $1,319,532, which is $89,592 ahead of last year. September collections were $147,793, about $2,300 below September 2025.
So far this year, the commission has paid $744,000 to the city for debt service and $351,500 in grants.
Commissioners also discussed whether large retailers are collecting the A&P tax on prepared foods like rotisserie chickens and deli items. Staff said they could look into it after the 1st of the year.
Project Updates
City staff said the new trails at River Park are open and busy with hikers, families and mountain bikers. The water park now has 2 large slides installed. A preconstruction meeting for Rogers Park was set for Tuesday.
Other Business
Commissioners discussed requiring clearer commitments from events that receive A&P sponsorships, such as signage, announcements and social media. Pugh will draft application language for the November meeting.
The commission also discussed comparing city business licenses with A&P permits to make sure food trucks and other food businesses are collecting and paying the A&P tax.
The November meeting was moved up to Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. because of Thanksgiving.
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