Search

SD lawmakers want more information about RFP process for the Freedom Works Here campaign - Argus Leader

rintongs.blogspot.com

The Legislature's executive committee is asking the Governor's Office of Economic Development to send more information regarding the "Freedom Works Here" campaign.

Rep. Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, made the motion Tuesday during a meeting of the Executive Board, requesting the committee get specific details about the $5 million workforce recruitment campaign that has run since late-June. Lawmakers passed the vote with 14 yeses and 1 absent.

S.D. Representatives Chris Karr and Jim Mehlhaff chat during the first day of legislative session on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.

The letter would include "the RFP process that was administered, the companies that applied, the information requested, how submissions were compared, the criteria that was used to make a final determination, who determined that criteria, what was submitted and the individuals involved with the selection process," Karr said.

All information in the letter would have to be returnedby Dec. 18 to the E-Board.

More:South Dakota lawmakers question effectiveness of Freedom Works Here ad campaign

The move comes after the Appropriations Committee grilled GOED Commissioner Chris Schilken on Monday about the success of the workforce campaign.

Gov. Kristi Noem, who dressed up as a plumber, electrician and dentist for “Freedom Works Here” TV ad placements, repeatedly touted the campaign as the most successful workforce recruitment campaign in the history of the state. 

In this "Freedom Works Here" campaign video, Gov. Kristi Noem touts the strength of the state's economy and its growing apprenticeship programs while donning a plumber's uniform.

But lawmakers were having a difficult time Monday believing the metrics of success that GOED has measured. Schilken explained the campaign has had 800 million impressions across the country, with 7,423 people having requested information on South Dakota and more than 1,900 people proceeding to the final stages of finding a career in the state.

But neither Schilken nor Travis Dovre, the GOED finance director, could say how many people had actually moved to South Dakota because of the campaign. 

"We would like to be able to provide a list of every individual who moved here, but the challenge with past workforce marketing initiatives have been just that," Dovre said. "Not everybody who sees those ads decides to register with the Department of Labor and Regulation for job seeking services. They may use other sources or just decide to move here for other reasons. So, unfortunately, the short answer is we will probably never be able to have an exact number to provide to this committee of how many people have moved here."

Karr said Tuesday he’s been asked questions multiple times about the campaign and the RFP process.

“There’s a lot of speculation about what took place and what’s occurred,” he said. “I think that there’s been enough red flags raised that we have an interest to look into this and understand what was the process.”

The Ohio-based Strategic Media Placement won the RFP in April.

A draft of the letter will be circulated by the executive committee over the next few days before being sent to GOED.

Adblock test (Why?)



"freedom" - Google News
November 15, 2023 at 04:58AM
https://ift.tt/v3IOiHG

SD lawmakers want more information about RFP process for the Freedom Works Here campaign - Argus Leader
"freedom" - Google News
https://ift.tt/7aX6RmW
https://ift.tt/D7lCgP0

Bagikan Berita Ini

0 Response to "SD lawmakers want more information about RFP process for the Freedom Works Here campaign - Argus Leader"

Post a Comment

Powered by Blogger.