Governor Branstad announces program to promote tourism on IABD trucks.
The State of Iowa and a dozen Iowa cities have split the $50,000 cost of an 18-month-long “rolling billboard” campaign to promote tourism within the state.
State-owned trucks making alcohol deliveries from the state liquor warehouse are carrying the messages. Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division director Steve Larson says his agency’s fleet of trucks logs more than 1.6 million miles on Iowa’s roads and highways each year.
“These mobile advertisements publicize attractions, they highlight what Iowa has to offer and illustrate how departments work together to showcase Iowa tourism and programs that benefit the citizens of Iowa,” Larson says.
For example, the truck carrying the message from Cedar Falls focuses on the community’s status as a “bicycle friendly” community. Sioux City’s message highlights attractions like the Orpheum Theater and an indoor rock wall. Larson says each week, his trucks stop at more than a thousand different destinations and travel into all of Iowa’s 99 counties.
“The estimated advertising value at this exposure level approaches $60,000 per community, per year,” he says.
Truck featuring Arnolds Park. (click on photo for larger picture)
Governor Terry Branstad highlighted this new ad campaign during his weekly news conference this morning and a reporter asked the governor to name the most effective rolling billboard he has seen.
“Well, I don’t know, but we did one on our last campaign that worked out,” Branstad said, laughing.
The recreational vehicle Branstad traveled the state in during the 2010 campaign was painted with a huge Branstad for governor logo.
“But I think this is a wonderful idea,” Branstad said of the tourism campaign, “and I think it’s great to see the Alcoholic Beverages Division partnering with many state agencies and also with the tourism people around the state — the communities, the tourism and visitor bureaus.”
The communities of Ames, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Iowa City, North Liberty and Coralville, Newton, Okoboji, Sioux City and Waterloo have messages now traveling the state on Alcoholic Beverages Division delivery trucks. The Iowa Tourism Division is also highlighting attractions like the Maquoketa Caves, the Arnolds Park Amusement Park, the Loess Hills in western Iowa and Sky Tours Ziplines in Dubuque.
The images for the trucks are financed with about $25,000 in state tax dollars and another $25,000 from the ten cities involved.