MIAMI, OK.--- "We think it's something Miami will be known for. It's a landmark," states Larry Eller, Miami Risk Coordinator.
It's a large, high profile change on Main Street, not easy to ignore
"It's a very inviting sign encouraging people to get off Steve Owens and come to downtown Miami, shop, eat," states states Eller.
The $120,000 sign funded by a state grant was designed to help revitalize Miami. City leaders hope it lures more people into town.
"As a city, if we're going to look to grow revenues, one way that we know we can do that is through tourism," states Amanda Davis, Miami CVB Director.
While anyone can see the obvious changes, there are also less visible ones. Miami's Visitor's Bureau has added 2 staff members to help increase the city's traffic and visitor expenditure.
"Being able to have 2 full time people doing that day by day will help push our numbers faster," states Davis.
Sherry Spillers is one of the new additions, focusing on sales.
"I will be promoting businesses to come to Miami, conventions, weddings, family reunions, meetings. Just anyone to come to our town to see what we have to offer," states Sherry Spillers, Miami CVB Sales Director.
Shannon Thomas is now in charge of marketing, focused on recruiting sports events to Miami.
"It's a good opportunity for Miami. We have a lot of facilities that need to be utilized. I think we can make it grow," states Shannon Thomas, Miami CVB Marketing Director.
Thomas says the city is already well placed to target soccer meets and BMX events. He hopes to see even more hotels open in town, boosting the potential events industry.
"When the economy did take a bump over the last few years, the one industry that did not, that wasn't affected at all was the sports industry so that's one thing that we're going to capitalize on and be more aggressive with it,"states Eller.
Davis says September was packed with events and the city's hotel tax revenue set an all time record, at $389,000, jumping 10% from August. City leaders hope the new changes create even more tax revenue for the city to grow.
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