Maine Office of Tourism grants boost creative tourism approaches
Photo / Jody Winship
Tristan Noyes, executive director of the Maine Grain Alliance, demonstrates how to bake pita bread at last year's Maine Grains Conference and Kneading Festival in Skowhegan. The festival is one of 10 recipients of grants from the Maine Office of Tourism awarded to organizations taking a creative approach to tourism.
The Maine Office of Tourism awarded 10 grants totalling $132,875 to smaller organizations that are taking a creative approach and inspiring visitors to explore what’s new in Maine.
The office awarded nine Tourism Enterprise Marketing Grants and one Special Event Marketing Grant in its cycle that supports spring and summer 2018 projects.
"Today's travelers are seeking unique experiences for their next vacation," Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism, said in a Tuesday news release. "These grants assist smaller organizations that have taken a more creative approach to marketing themselves and inspiring visitors to explore what's new in Maine."
Tourism Enterprise Marketing Grants are awarded biannually in spring and fall, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Eligible nonprofit organizations may also apply for Special Event Marketing Grants.
Recipients include:
- Bastille Day, Castine, $2,500: Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Bastille Day, and Castine's historic connection to France, the funds will support the event website, social media, and print marketing materials.
- Maine Grains Conference and Kneading Festival, Skowhegan, $2,500: Funds will support public relations promotion of both the Maine Grains Conference and the Kneading Festival on the following day.
- Maine Huts and Trails, Kingfield, $10,000: Funds will support development of photo and video assets to promote active outdoors activities in Maine's High Peaks Regions.
- Maine International Film Festival, Waterville, $10,000: Funds will support website upgrades to the 10-day event, held in July.
- Main Street Maine Trail, $9,500: Funds will support website development for a collaborative effort by the eight designated Main Street Community downtowns in Maine to promote themselves as touring/sightseeing attractions to Maine visitors.
- Moose Lottery Festival, Skowhegan, $10,000: The Annual Moose Permit Lottery will take place in Skowhegan in June, accompanied by a three-day festival of events and activities. Funds will support print and social media promotion.
- Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, $8,575: Funding supports development of photo and video assets to promote the re-energized tourism destination in the Moosehead Lake area.
- Portland Bach Experience, $10,000: Funding will support website and asset development, digital advertising and public relations for the week-long music festival.
- Whoopie Pie Festival, Dover-Foxcroft, $9,800: Funds will support website development, social media, and maps to help visitors explore Piscataquis County during the annual festival, held in in June.
- Abbe Museum Indian Market, Bar Harbor, $60,000 Special Event Grant: This is a new event that brings national and international attention to Maine's Native American basket makers and artisans. The event will take place in May.
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