Chris Shearer
Contributing Writer
BERLIN — While the details are unclear, the Town of Berlin is being considered by a “major soda company” to host a potential event downtown.
On Monday, Berlin’s Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells informed the Mayor and Council of an inquiry she received late last week from an ad agency in New York.
“We haven’t been chosen officially yet,” said Wells. “It’s all up in the air so it’s best to remain tight lipped about these things.”
The event would be held on April 18 on Pitts Street and could involve a soda tasting event that potentially could be filmed and used as promotional or even commercial material for the unnamed company.
“Basically, what they want to do is build a soda wall, 50 to 70 feet long, and offer a variety of soda for the public to taste for free and tell them what they like and don’t like,” said Wells. “They sought us out. We have won so many awards over the past few years, they liked our background.”
The council probed Wells for more information, but despite the vagueness and the lack of details, the council was enthused by the opportunity.
Councilmember Lisa Hall motioned to approve the event, even in its rough draft form, to “smooth the road as much as possible for the soda company.”
Wells reiterated the unique nature of this request and hoped to make the town appear easy to work with from the promoter’s perspective.
“You can’t purchase this kind of exposure,” said Wells. “If it does happen, I’d like to give a second presentation at the next council meeting, as it would be a week before the event. I didn’t want to lose out on it.”
The council passed Hall’s motion for tentative approval of the event and for the necessary road closure on Pitts Street for the event should the town be chosen by the unnamed company.
While nothing is definitive, according to Wells, a generous donation of $5,000 from the soda company to the town was discussed if Berlin is chosen.