By Mary Hladky
As the city continues planning for its 100th birthday celebration in 2025, one thing is clear — this yearlong party won’t be cobbled together on the cheap.
The city has hired a centennial marketing consultant, Boca Raton-based Merit Mile, which will be paid $467,926 for 18 months of work that began on July 1 “to bring a dynamic and creative approach” to the centennial celebration, the city said in announcing the hiring. The company’s work can be extended for an additional six months.
Merit Mile’s responsibilities include creating a website that will be continuously updated with all-things-centennial information and will include a centennial store. It will launch on Dec. 1.
The company will design centennial-themed merchandise featuring the city’s centennial logo that will be available in the online store. The items can be purchased, but there also will be giveaways. The logo was unveiled on the city’s website on June 24.
Merit Mile also will create sponsorship, donation and community partnership packages for people, businesses and organizations that want to support and finance the gala.
“This yearlong, community-wide event is a significant milestone that demands extensive resources and expertise, and we believe Merit Mile is the perfect partner to help us achieve this,” Anne Marie Connolly, the city’s communications and marketing manager, said in the announcement.
A centennial weekend celebration will be held on May 24 and 25. Although the city’s 100th birthday actually falls on May 26, the celebration was moved up so it won’t conflict with Memorial Day.
While most centennial events will take place next year, some already are being held. A June event celebrated the 1924 incorporation of “Boca Ratone,” which was a year before its current incorporation without the “e” at the end.
The city also has partnered with the poetry organization O, Miami to launch “Zip Odes,” which are five-line poems written by residents with the number of words in each line based on their zip code numbers. To try your hand, go to odetoboca.com.
Curated poems honoring the city will be showcased in public art projects.
Mayor Scott Singer, zip code 33496, is among those to whom the muse has spoken. His offering:
Boca Raton is
the greatest city
because of its people
but we can reach our fullest potential, united together
for the next century and beyond.
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