FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Patriot Business Program to kick off April 14

Salina, Kan., (March 22, 2011) - The Salina Military Affairs Council will hold a kickoff party for the Patriot Business Program April 14 from 4 to 6 p.m., at Legends Sports Bar and Grill, located at 2110 W. Crawford in Salina.

The Patriot Business Program offers businesses a way to market directly to the military while offering servicemembers and their families an easy way to identify those businesses that support them.

"When I was in the Marine Corps, the weekend after we got our paychecks we'd drive hours out of town to shop at businesses we knew offered a military discount," explained MAC Public Relations Chair Melissa McCoy.  "This program is simply a way to make identifying those businesses easier and more uniform."

To become a member of the Patriot Business Program, businesses sign an agreement with the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce to honor a 10 percent or more discount off the total ticket price of goods and services to current military identification card holders.  This includes active duty, Guard and Reserve, retirees and their dependents. 

In exchange, the business will be provided with a Patriot Business logo to proudly display at the entrance of their establishment and cash registers, as well as a digital logo to display on their website and to use on any marketing materials.  The business will be listed in a directory distributed to based and visiting military members.  Each week after the kickoff one Patriot Business will be spotlighted on the website.

"I am so excited to be a part of this program," said Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Director of Communications and Military Affairs Rachel Hinde.  "It's a win-win for Salina businesses and the military."  

Everyone is invited to attend to learn more about the Patriot Business Program and the MAC.  Businesses can sign up to become a Patriot Business at the party, but attendance is not required. 

Volunteers to recruit Patriot Businesses are also needed and can sign up at the party as well.  A month-long contest will begin for all recruitment volunteers that awards the top three people who sign up the most new businesses.  First place is round-trip tickets for two on SeaPort Airlines to Kansas City, hotel and rental car courtesy of Salina Airport Authority, second place is $200 in Smoky Hill Silver, and third place is $100 in Smoky Hill Silver.

For more information about the Salina Military Affairs Council and the Patriot Business Program contact Rachel Hinde at 785.827.9301. 

Salina has a close relationship with the military units stationed here as well as those units training at the Great Plains Joint Training Center.  The creation of the GPJTC has brought an increased presence of active duty military, National Guard and civilian crisis first responders to Salina for training purposes. 

The 2010 Fort Riley Army Covenant Signing with Saline County and the City of Salina will allow for additional growth in our community.  The Chamber of Commerce has organized the formation of the Military Affairs Council in response to this growth.

The mission of the MAC is to plan, coordinate and execute programming and activities that will strengthen the relationship between Salina and the military forces working and training here.  The goal is to bring a heightened awareness of one community's importance to the other's.  Our commitment is to support the servicemembers and their families during both deployment hardships and homecoming joy.  In so doing, we hope to show active, Guard, Reserve and retired military that Salina is not just another duty station, but a place to call home.

The Salina Airport Authority is a body corporate and politic.  The Authority was created by the City of Salina in April 1965 pursuant to the authority granted by the City by the surplus property and public airport authority act of the State of Kansas.  The Authority is managed and controlled by a five-member Board of Directors appointed by the Salina City Commission. 

The Salina Airport Authority is home to the Salina Municipal Airport, the Salina Aviation Service Center and the Salina Airport Industrial Center.  The board of directors and staff are proactive in providing the citizens of Salina, Saline County and North Central Kansas with a center that support business and industry, which, in turn, provides jobs and payroll that benefit the region.

The Salina Municipal Airport is the only commercial service airport serving Salina/Saline County and the 22-county area, which comprises North Central Kansas.  The airport also services the corporate, business, private aviation and flight training needs of industry, business and individuals in the area. 

Quick Links

• Salina Airport Authority
• Salina Military Affairs Council Facebook page
• Salina Military Affairs Council
• Salina Area Chamber of Commerce