Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 12/08/2011

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MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRAIL - MARKETING AND OUTREACH MRT cities play a number of roles. Some provide services, others are centers that enhance and link multi -modal travel, others are where bike routes converge, and still others contain significant tourism attractions. Regardless, each and every town makes an important contribution to a bicyclist's experience, equally important, is how MRT cities accommodate their new visitors. Communities that are friendly to bicycle travel add to a visitor's fun and lasting memories. To help communities along the river become as bicycle -friendly as possible, and to begin promoting their community as an MRT destination, MnDOT is providing marketing and outreach services, starting with the four Community Engagement meetings. MRT cRa COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING SCHEDULE: Oct. 24 — Winona; Oct. 25 — Grand Rapids; For meeting information and specific locations: Oct. 26 — St. Cloud; htto://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/mrt.html Nov. 1— Twin Cities At the Community Engagement meetings MnDOT will: • PROVIDE ALL ATTENDEES THESE MARKETING AND OUTREACH SERVICES: ✓ A presentation on the importance of marketing the MRT and the MRT "brand" (by tourism marketing expert, Steve Markuson (former director of Explore MN Tourism); ✓ A copy of, and professional introduction to "unpack" the Mississippi River Trail Bikeway Marketing Toolbox (by Stantec staff who developed the Toolbox); ✓ How to evaluate your community's bicycle friendliness (by the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota) ✓ Information about MRT Discovery Bicycle rides scheduled for Spring 2012. • Describe the idea behind "Host Cities" and explain how to apply for certain benefits. • Introduce the concept of "Hub Cities" BENEFITS FOR ALL MRT HOST CITIES Every city willing to pass a local resolution supporting the MRT and its goals-- regardless of size and services —will be provided some extra benefits as Host Cities. • An MRT "Discovery" bicycle ride that will start at the Headwaters and finish at the Iowa border. The ride offers opportunities for HOST cities to highlight local attractions. Rides will tentatively occur in June 2012; • Listing (and web links) to your community or city on the MnDOT MRT website (htta://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/mrt.html) ENHANCED BENEFITS FOR SELECTED MRT HOST CITIES One Host Community in each of the six MRT Destination Areas that wants to position itself as a significant destination for MRT travelers is eligible to receive expert marketing and bicycle planning assistance, which includes: • Developing a marketing action plan. Two consultation meetings with tourism marketing expert, Steve Markuson (former director of Explore MN Tourism), who will assist each city in developing an MRT Marketing Plan.