Rollingwood City Council approved motions April 18 to embark on a community promotional and branding campaign using a professional marketing firm. The estimated cost of the project is $28,500, according to city agenda documents.

The cost is expected to be shared between the city and the Rollingwood Community Development Corp. RCDC is a separate, tax-collecting entity appointed by council with its own budget and a mission to promote existing or new businesses, staff said.

“I’m a big believer [in the project],” Alderman and RCDC member Michael Dyson said. “The idea [of the branding project] is to embody what Rollingwood is and what it is about. [From a] practical standpoint, it’s economic-based and -motivated. RCDC plays a key role.”

The idea for a branding campaign came to the forefront recently when Mayor Roxanne McKee said she came to RCDC with a receipt from a local business that showed West Lake Hills as an address--not Rollingwood.

On April 18 council agreed to provide RCDC an amendment of $13,000 to its annual budget so it can begin promoting the project.

At a future meeting the corporation is expected to go before council to request an additional $6,500. The city itself will also be asked to partner with RCDC and contribute $9,000, city staff said. Per state law, a 60-day public comment period will have to be completed along with public hearings before the RCDC and council before any funds are transferred or spent.

The project is being designed by Rollingwood-based public relations firm Buie & Co. The firm’s website showed it has worked with Knight Construction, H-E-B and the Williamson County Road Bond Program.