PORTSMOUTH — In an attempt to boost local businesses that have been challenged due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town Council voted 6-1 Monday night to earmark $50,000 in federal American Rescue Funds to develop a “Shop Portsmouth” marketing campaign.

Council member Keith Hamilton proposed the campaign, saying his initial ideas include creating a retail page on the town’s website to include all of the town’s stores and restaurants, purchasing advertising space on local media websites, and potentially using Facebook and other social media platforms as well. The town could also work in tandem with the Newport Chamber of Commerce and the Portsmouth Business Association, Mr. Hamilton said.

One of the American Rescue Fund’s missions is to help “get businesses back on their feet,” he said. “Any way we can to drive people to Portsmouth businesses … would be a good use of funds coming from the federal government.

“We need people to stop and shop … rather than race 60 miles per hour down West Main Road into Newport.”

Council member Daniela Abbott supported the idea and said perhaps the campaign could include ways to “reinvigorate” the long-delayed Town Center project and also support new sidewalks in the area of Clements’ Marketplace and The Portsmouth Shop. 

Council Vice President Linda Ujifusa cast the sole dissenting vote. She said she wasn’t against the plan, but preferred tabling the proposal until the town had a better handle on how much federal relief funding it would be receiving. She also said the council should hear directly from local businesses to find out how the money could best be spent.

“Looking at this one suggestion in isolation is really hard, because maybe there’s something better,” she said, noting there may be more effective methods to drive people to local businesses. 

“You can change the amount of money, but we have to do something,” Mr. Hamilton said, adding the town “should hit the ground running” with a plan before the money comes in so businesses get a boost before summer.

According to Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr., the town is expected to receive about $845,000 through the American Rescue Plan by early May, plus a duplicate amount next year — and then another $3.3 million in “county” funds down the road.

“All in all, it’s about $5 million,” he said.

Richard Talipsky, the town’s director of business development and a member of the Portsmouth Business Association’s board of directors, said the organization supports the proposal. About 30,000 vehicles pass through Portsmouth every day, he said, and hopefully a marketing campaign could get some of them to stop.

Council President Kevin Aguiar agreed. “A lot of businesses lost money last year,” he said.

Budget talks start

The council also heard an overview of Mr. Rainer’s proposed $69.15 million municipal budget for fiscal year 2022. The council scheduled further review for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (if needed) of this week.

The budget as presented calls for a total levy of $59.26 million and a property tax rate of $15.31, a 1.57-percent increase over the current rate. The total budget increase is 2.85 percent, which stays within the state-mandated 4-percent increase on new spending.

The council is expected to adopt a provisional budget on May 10 and hold a public hearing on June 9. The council will formally adopt a budget on June 28.