It will be easier to spread the word about Jefferson County’s attractions and special events now that the Jefferson County Tourism Commission has received a special state designation.
“We’ve been notified that we have been designated the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Jefferson County. That’s a program that is administered through the Missouri Division of Tourism,” said Sharon Floyd, executive director of the Tourism Commission.
“This is a big deal,” said Dan Govero, president of the Jefferson County Growth Association, which formed the tourism commission about two years ago.
Floyd agreed that the designation is a big deal.
“It’s big because it opens up a whole new source of funding for us,” she said. “Through the DMO program, we are eligible for up to $50,000 a year in funding that is a 50-50 match locally, and the money goes through a grant application process (through the state Division of Tourism).”
The grant money, Floyd said, has some limitations.
“That money can be used on a variety of advertising, such as billboards, possibly radio and TV ads, geofencing (targeted advertising to a specific geographic area in social media sites),” she said. “The thing is it has to be used outside the county line, at least 50 miles away. So we’re planning on billboards in other places around the state, telling people what attractions Jefferson County has to offer – its unique businesses and restaurants, for instance.
“And we’d be able to target billboards to specific events, such as Twin City Days.”
Floyd said the Tourism Commission is going out for requests for proposals (a process similar to advertising for bids) for a marketing agency that will help develop campaigns, including videos, drone footage and TV commercials.
And, she said, the county Tourism Commission’s sponsoring agencies, the Jefferson County Growth Association and the Arnold, Pevely and Festus tourism groups, also can tap into the $50,000 annual grant maximum.
“This will be a win-win for everyone,” she said.
Floyd said she hopes the designation will encourage local businesses to join the Tourism Commission, which currently has 50 members.
“We have a lot of room to grow. There are probably 1,000 restaurants in Jefferson County, for instance.”
Floyd said the cost for businesses to join is $250 a year, and included in those dues is up to 1,500 social media impressions.
“If a business would try to do that themselves, it could cost up to $1,200,” she said.
Floyd also encouraged residents to check out the Tourism Commission’s website, visitjeffersoncounty.com, that has a wealth of information about upcoming events, ideas for day trips around the county, lists of historic sites, farmers markets, restaurants, wineries and breweries and hotels and motels.
“It really is a great resource, both for people wanting to visit Jefferson County and for those of us who live here,” Floyd said.
“We’re excited about this,” Floyd said of the DMO designation. “This will give us the opportunity to tell people the story of Jefferson County and once they know that, they’ll come here and spend their money here.”