Can public relations rescue the floundering economy of Sanford, Fla.?

Town officials hope so.

Many people outside of central Florida had never heard of Sanford before the Trayvon Martin case. Today it’s synonymous with the national news story in which George Zimmermann, a neighborhood watch captain, fatally shot the unarmed 17-year-old.

Now, according to The Los Angeles Times, the city is suffering:

“Sanford merchants saw sales decline, customers canceled reservations at restaurants and fewer shoppers browsed downtown streets.

“Now, Sanford officials are putting together a public relations effort to proclaim that the Seminole County seat is still ‘The Friendly City’ touted by its slogan.”

Sanford officials created a 14-member group dubbed the “Positive Marketing Partner Panel,” and the city has retained a marketing group for $10,000. It also earmarked $15,000 for advertising, according to the L.A. Times.

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