Ann Arbor SPARK and CVBs Team Up with MEDC for National Marketing

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ann Arbor SPARK and the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, are leading a new $1 million Pure Michigan advertising campaign that promotes the region.  The unique partnership is designed to attract visitors to Washtenaw County by leveraging key tourism and economic development assets.

The multimedia campaign is supported by $500,000 from MEDC's Pure Michigan initiative and more than $400,000 from the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau's marketing fund.  It will include national television advertising, articles on the Pure Michigan website, and a promotional video on the Ann Arbor SPARK website.  Ann Arbor SPARK and its partners will also organize a press tour of the region for journalists from around the country. 

"The time is absolutely right to promote Ann Arbor: There's growing buzz, nationally, and partnering with Pure Michigan opens up marketing opportunities that would be cost-prohibitive for the region on its own," said Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK.  "National media is taking note of the qualities that make Ann Arbor a destination where people and businesses can thrive.  This collaborative marketing effort promotes one of the state's shining economic stars."

Through its economic development activities, Ann Arbor SPARK promotes the broader Washtenaw County area as a destination where people want to live and work, and where businesses want to relocate and expand.

"Quality of life and quality of place are what attract people to visit Ann Arbor, live in Ann Arbor, and want to be a part of Ann Arbor," said Mary Kerr, president of the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  "World-class cultural offerings, dining and entertainment, combined with family-friendly recreational opportunities, make Ann Arbor a desirable destination.  This collaborative marketing effort helps us tell this important story to a broader audience and attract positive attention to Ann Arbor."

"Like tourism marketing, economic development attracts attention to what Ann Arbor has to offer, and creates demand for Ann Arbor as a destination; both are about people: Tourists, visitors, students, families, business owners, job-seekers," said Donna Doleman, Ann Arbor SPARK vice president, marketing and talent.  "Businesses want to locate in a desirable location where they can hire and attract workers, including those who would relocate for a job. This new marketing partnership allows us to scale and amplify our economic development and business attraction efforts."

To support the campaign, MEDC will contribute $500,000 from its Pure Michigan funds, with a matching amount from the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Ann Arbor SPARK.

ABOUT ANN ARBOR SPARK

Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is advancing the region by encouraging and supporting business acceleration, attraction and retention. The organization identifies and meets the needs of business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County, Washtenaw County etcs/Michigan Works!, the City of Ann Arbor, Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.

ABOUT THE ANN ARBOR AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a 501 (c)6 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the economy of the Ann Arbor Area and the county of Washtenaw in general, through marketing, sales and promotion of the area as a destination for overnight visitors.

SOURCE Ann Arbor SPARK

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