http://www.hotcoco.com/news/business/businessstories/jfm18928.htm

relevant quote:

"Cost of preparedness Environics Communications in Stamford, Conn., took advantage of the concern around Y2K to develop a Y2K PR Tool Kit, which it sends free to anyone who requests it. It includes a 77-item questionnaire, magazine articles on the psychological effects of Y2K, questions about legal issues involving suppliers, a list of Y2K Web sites and, of course, company brochures about Environics.

About 125 organizations have requested the kit since Environics began marketing it in early February, Environics officials said. Officials say the kit is a way of reaching understaffed businesses and nonprofit groups that can't afford to hire a public relations team. It is also a checklist for companies that already have a staff in place.

How much does reassurance cost? It would cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 to help a company that wanted to make a big announcement about its Y2K preparedness, Environics Executive Vice President Bob Pickard said.

Planning Y2K strategies through the end of the year could cost as much as $5,000 a month, he added. In many cases, companies already have their communications staffing and network in place. They just need help drafting the kind of message to send.

"We're not talking about new services or products," he said. "But most organizations would not spend the equivalent of launching a new toothpaste or soft drink.""

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), March 30, 1999