“We live in a great place, but nobody seems to know we are here.” That sentiment was expressed over and over recently when the community held study circles to consider how to respond to the imminent closure of the Montana Developmental Center.
With the aim of attracting more visitors to aid the local economy, area residents have listened and are launching marketing efforts. Two publications, a brochure titled “Discover Jefferson County” and a rack card inviting folks to “Discover Your Boulder Moment,” are ready to reach out to others.
In the wake of the MDC closure announcement, Jefferson County officials hired and funded a part-time events coordinator and the Boulder Area Chamber of Commerce joined with the Boulder Transition Advisory Committee to market the area. Twenty-five hundred county brochures will go out to visitors entering the county for a variety of events in the coming months. Twenty thousand rack cards will be distributed at motels, visitor centers and more around Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
The county brochure describes ten different communities, lists area lodging and eateries, touts recreational opportunities, and mentions historical attractions. The rack cards focus on Boulder, listing annual events, ghost towns, and other recreational opportunities. In addition, the promotional effort offers a cash prize for visitors entering an end-of-summer drawing by dropping a portion of the card at a participating Boulder business. The purpose of the drawing, said backers, is to evaluate the effectiveness of the promotion with an eye toward future promotional efforts.
