DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Monday, February 11, 2013                          

 

                           Sarah Lawlor

 

 

 

 

(HELENA) – Nine tourism e-marketing projects in eight Montana communities have been selected to receive a total of $150,000 in grant funding from the Montana Office of Tourism’s Tourism E-Marketing Technology Grant Program, through the Montana Department of Commerce.

 

The Montana communities of Big Sky, Deer Lodge, Gardiner, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Terry and Whitefish will use the Technology Grant funds to develop tourism e-marketing projects. Commerce Director Meg O’Leary approved the Technology Grant funding for the nine Montana projects following recommendations from Department of Commerce staff and Tourism Advisory Council (TAC) members.

 

“The digital landscape is evolving at such a rapid pace that in order to stay competitive businesses must incorporate digital technology into their marketing initiatives,” said Director O’Leary. “These trends offer travel marketers new and cost-efficient ways of connecting with consumers before, during and after their trips. We are pleased to be able to assist these tourism partners with their innovative technology outreach through this new grant program.”

 

Gardiner: Northern Range Promotional Cooperative - $8,000

Sponsor: Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

 

Terry: Visit Terry Website - $5,000

Sponsor: Prairie County Chamber of Commerce

 

Deer Lodge: Smartphone Self-guided Tour - $30,000

Sponsor: Deer Lodge Development Group

 

Missoula: Guidebook Mobile Event Application - $3,500

Sponsor: International Choral Festival of Missoula

 

Kalispell: Discovery on Every Device - $6,700

Sponsor: Kalispell Convention and Visitors Bureau

 

Missoula: Social Media & Social Networking Campaign - $10,350

Sponsor: A Carousel for Missoula Foundation

 

Whitefish: Responsive Web Design & Trip Planner - $30,000

Sponsor: Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau

 

Big Sky: E-launch of Warren Miller Performing Arts Center - $25,000

Sponsor: Friends of Big Sky Education

 

Helena: Southwest Montana E-Tourism Project - $31,450

Sponsor: Montana Preservation Alliance

 

“Much of how we do business these days revolves around the digital world,” said Montana Office of Tourism Administrator Jeri Duran. “Mobile usage is growing at 14 times the rate of online usage and online usage is still a growing market. Our tourism partners recognize this reality and we are excited to see these projects come to fruition through the assistance of our e-marketing grants.”

 

The Tourism E-Marketing Technology Grant was developed in 2012 to assist Montana businesses improve their competitive e-marketing position within the tourism industry.

 

The deadline for the next round of grant applications will be announced in August 2013. For more information, contact Montana Office of Tourism’s Visitor Information Systems Manager, Carol Crockett, 406-841-2796, ccrockett@mt.gov.

 

 

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