By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Brandon Twp.- Businesses may soon have an opportunity to market directly to high school students and sports fans here.
The school district is struggling with making cuts to eliminate a $2.5 million budget deficit and seeking additional revenue sources. Permitting advertising at the high school and the Brandon Athletic Activities Complex could help ease the deficit.
School officials met with the Bloomfield Hills-based company Alternative Revenue Development Feb. 10 and the company will give a presentation at the next school board meeting, set for 6:30 p.m., March 8, at the central district office, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.
‘I’m excited about the opportunity to find additional revenue and I’m comfortable that the district is able to retain control as part of the package that was presented,? said Jamie Cowan, executive director of fiscal affairs. According to the company’s website, www.altrevenues.com, ‘Alternative Revenue Development (ARD) is a new organization that meets the needs of school districts, by delivering new and innovative revenue streams through national, regional, and local brands and sponsors. Through tasteful on-campus high school signage, experiential marketing exposure, direct-to-home communications and meaningful e-commerce programs, and is able to help school districts generate the revenue they need to provide the programs, materials, and educational components students and their families both expect and need for an optimum educational experience.?
Cowan said if the school board chooses to participate, advertisers approved by the district would be permitted to have interior and exterior signage around the high school campus and at the sports complex, as well as a banner on the district’s website. There would be no costs to the district, who would get net profits from the advertisers, a projected $100,000 in annual revenue, although Cowan said she doesn’t want to hang her hat on that number. The proposal also has an e-commerce component? if school website visitors navigate to an advertiser’s page and purchase something, there will be residuals for the school district. Advertising on tickets or programs is also a possibility.
The district would retain rights for every vendor and every form of advertising would go through the district for final approval.
‘They are targeting education and are very cognizant of the audience and the sensitivity involved in that,? Cowan said.