HELENA – Tourism organizations from eight Montana communities will move forward with new e-marketing projects thanks to recent funding awards made by the Montana Office of Tourism.
MTOT announced the recipients of its 2014 Tourism e-Marketing Technology Grant, which was created last year in an effort to help Montana businesses and nonprofits improve their competitive position within the state’s tourism industry.
“E-marketing is essential to reaching Montana’s target travelers,” said Jeri Duran, Administrator of the Montana Office of Tourism.
The Terry Chamber of Commerce, which received $5,000 from the program in 2013 to update its website, recently launched its completed project at visitterrymontana.com. The historic eastern Montana town is set on the banks of the Yellowstone River in badlands country and has a classic Western culture.
Grant funds may be used for a variety of technology-related projects such as the development of mobile applications and web design. Now in its second year, the program has expanded from $150,000 to $200,000 in available funds. Recipient organizations and funded projects are:
Bozeman; Museum of the Rockies; Retargeting e-Marketing Campaign; $5,095
Butte; Butte-Silver Bow CVB; Butte Virtual Tour Website & Mobile App; $9,000
Charlo; Blue Sky Productions; Lively Times: Web Enhancement & Data Sharing Project; $43,415
Hamilton; Bitterroot Cultural Heritage Trust; Connecting Visitors to Arts & Culture in the Bitterroot; $26,225
Helena; Alternative Energy Resources Organization; Abundant Montana Agritourism e-Marketing Project; $26,700
Missoula; Run Wild Missoula; Promotional Video, Online Registration, Social Media; $23,205
Missoula; Adventure Cycling Association; Montana Bicycle Tours Online Marketing Campaign; $16,860
West Yellowstone; Kirkwood Ranch; Amazing Digital & Discovery Event; $9,500
Whitefish; Old Town Creative Communications; Montana Roadside History & Geology Markers App; $40,000