Muskogee’s Port Authority Board of Directors approved plans to amp up marketing for business development at its first meeting of the new year.

In the second phase of a new marketing plan approved by the board last year, about $45,000 will be spent on new marketing materials.

Those include creation of two- to three-minute videos, which Brien Thorstenberg, director of business and economic development for the Port of Muskogee’s Business Development Office, said will be helpful as they try to “sell” the area for industry development.

“These will be keynote sales presentations that can be made on an iPad while we’re at trade shows or conventions,” he said.

Thorstenberg told the board the marketing materials, which follow the recent release of two new websites for the Port of Muskogee and Muskogee Development, will create a uniformity of materials for Muskogee Development and the Port of Muskogee to use in marketing projects.

Muskogee Development, under the Port Authority, is responsible for attracting industry to several areas in the city, including the port and three other industrial complexes with available land.

In addition to the approval of the new marketing materials, the board approved the following:

• Dec. 20 meeting minutes.

• December 2012 claims.

• December 2012 financial report.

• A resolution in support of One Voice 2013 Legislative Agenda.

• Authorization of contribution to employee profit sharing plan and trust.

Port Director Scott Robinson also gave the director’s report at the meeting, which included statistics on rail and barge tonnage and updates on ongoing projects.

Among those projects he mentioned are demolition of old houses that will begin in February, three property acquisitions under way, the ongoing rail project, acquisition of Arrowhead’s assets at the Three Forks Harbor and more.

The Arrowhead acquisition has not yet closed, but Robinson said he hopes to see closing by the end of the month.

The application for rail funding discussed at the last Port Authority meeting was submitted by the Eastern Oklahoma Development District to the Port Authority for review.

Reach Wendy Burton at (918) 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.