Join the party: State seeking help for statehood celebration
It could be Nevada’s biggest party yet, and state officials need help throwing it.
The Nevada 150 planning committee is looking for businesses to provide marketing and promotional services for the 150th anniversary of the Silver State’s statehood in 2014.
The committee wants proposals from businesses that specialize in fundraising, public relations, merchandising and website development. Companies would coordinate media and social media outreach, make commemorative items and collect money for the privately funded sesquicentennial celebration, a series of events and promotional campaigns that kicks off in October and lasts for a year. Barrick Gold Corp. and NV Energy have already signed on as partners, said planning committee member Lori Nelson.
For potential vendors, getting involved in Nevada 150 would help local companies support the state, Nelson added.
“When people make business decisions or look for new business partners, they want partners who genuinely care about and are invested in the community,” Nelson said. “Nevada’s 150th birthday really does give businesses the opportunity to show their spirit for Nevada. There’s definitely a sense of pride in Nevada. No matter how long they’ve lived here, people are pretty proud of the state. We want to celebrate Nevada’s rich history and tell its stories, and we believe there are a lot of businesses and individuals who want the camaraderie and sense of community that a celebration like the sesquicentennial can bring.”
To qualify, businesses must be based in Nevada. Experience working statewide is preferable, though Nelson said businesses who focus on distinct Nevada regions could partner up to submit a unified proposal.
To download a request for proposal and see additional selection criteria, visit www.Nevada150.org.
The committee welcomes questions about its requests for proposal. Questions are due Jan. 11, and answers will go out to all applicants on Jan. 16. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 22.
Mary Ann McAuliffe, interim executive director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, is accepting questions and proposals by e-mail, at mamcauliffe@nevada150.org, or fax, at 775-687-6159. Applicants can also mail or hand-deliver proposals to 401 N. Carson St. in Carson City.
The Nevada 150 planning committee is scheduled to review and rank proposals on Jan. 25. A statewide commission would award contracts in February, and work would begin in March and run through October 2014.
“We want to put together the infrastructure for a really great celebration,” Nelson said.
Las Vegas Review-Journal publisher Bob Brown is co-chairman of the Nevada 150 planning committee.
Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at
jrobison@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512.
Follow @J_Robison1 on Twitter.