Local Organizations Partner for Publicity - $10,000 Grant
Ohio Magazine printed this month what many already knew:  Marietta is one of Ohio's best hometowns.
November's issue of Ohio Magazine names Marietta as the "Best Hometown" in the southeast quadrant of Ohio. Now three organizations have teamed up to leverage this recognition into a statewide promotional effort.  The Marietta-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Southeastern Ohio Port Authority and Marietta Community Foundation worked together to purchase two advertisements in Ohio Magazine in order to attract visitors, retirees and businesses.
"Ohio Magazine's spotlight on Marietta and our superb quality of life is a perfect venue to attract more people to our community," according to Kelly Dyar, Executive Director of the CVB.  "Out target market includes those people who may come for a weekend, or are looking to buy a home and enjoy retirement, or may be looking for a competitive place to relocate their business.  Marietta offers it all, and Ohio Magazine has about 85,,000 higher income subscribers.
In conjunction with the advertisement, the Marietta Community Foundation announced today a $10,000 grant to the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority for economic development projects.
"This money was committed some time ago for economic development and has awaited the proper timing for release to the Southeast Ohio Port Authority,"  Community Foundation President Jack Moberg said.
The port authority is using a portion of the community foundation funds to pay for its share of the two ads that will appear in Ohio Magazine along with the Hometown story.  The Convention and Visitor's bureau is paying half as well.
"The collaboration is a natural," Port Authority Executive Director Mike Jacoby said.  "Our brands are very similar and reinforce one another.  The CVB uses the tagline 'Marietta - Where Ohio's History Resides.' The port authority uses "Washington County - Where the Pioneering Spirit Lives."
"Marietta's greatest asset is its warm and friendly residents and business owners.  They make Marietta and Washington County one of Ohio's Best Hometowns.  When visitors experience a pleasant welcome and readily see the quality of care given to the appearance of the community it often makes them think about living and working in Marietta.  Tourism is economic development and is frequently the conduit for growth of a community.  The CVB's promotion of Marietta and Washington County as a tourist destination often reaches the same audience the Port Authority seeks for investment and relocation in the area" said Kelly Dyar President of the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.