"Welcome to Kennett" banners, like the ones by the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center, will be popping up around Kennett in the weeks to come. Staff photo by George Anderson [Click to enlarge]

"Welcome to Kennett" banners will be popping up around the downtown area in the coming weeks. The Kennett Image Committee (KIC) is the group responsible for the banners and they are being produced through Brooks' Signs in Kennett.

The KIC is a city committee appointed by the mayor to beautify the city. They work on a budget of about $10,000 per year.

"We try to use our budget to make the city more attractive to visitors and residents," said Freddie Graham, KIC chairman.

"One of the things we're most proud of is the Image Committee are the ones who brought the hotel/motel tax to the city council. It doesn't bring in a lot of revenue but it does allow Kennett to market itself a little more than it would otherwise," Graham continued.

The KIC is also responsible for the Kennett logo, city postcards, memento handouts for visitors, key chains for the Governor Dalton Highway, American flags placed throughout the city, and various other projects.