Greater Bangor Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Group Receives Grant for Branding and Market Research

Bangor, Maine, October 9, 2024 –

The Greater Bangor Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (GBRERC) has received $195,000 for Branding, Market Research, and Marketing.  The grant was awarded by the Maine Office of Tourism’s Marketing Recovery Program.

The GBRERC is a program of Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC).  EMDC’s President & CEO, Lee Umphrey said, “This award will boost the local work accomplished over the last two years.  By enhancing marketing and branding efforts to promote outdoor recreation and cultural tourism, we will alert our community while meeting the group’s  primary goals.”  

Lisa Sturgeon, Chair of GBRERC, stated, “We are very excited to receive this funding from the Maine Office of Tourism.  This grant is an opportunity for us to continue the work that we have done since 2022.  The GBRERC brings together communities in the area to promote outdoor recreation and cultural tourism, improve connectivity and river access, and promote collaborations and partnerships within the area.  This particular grant will focus on one of our primary, branding and marketing the area as a destination for outdoor recreation and cultural tourism.  We will be able to engage professionals to do the research, develop branding, and create a marketing plan to promote the area as a destination for visitors and a great place to live for residents and future residents.”

The Greater Bangor RERC was formed in the spring of 2022 to implement a technical assistance grant received by the former Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau.  The Steering Committee is made up of representatives from area communities with interests in developing and promoting outdoor recreation and cultural tourism, creating river access, increased community

connectivity, and developing collaborative partnerships.  The group developed an implementation plan through community workshops, community assessment, and technical assistance.  The RERC program is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).  The GBRERC Steering Committee applied for funding through the Maine Office of Tourism for assistance to implement the RERC goal of promoting the area as an outdoor recreation and cultural tourism destination.

To help start the market research and branding development, there will be workshops held on October 24th at Husson University.  For more information visit emdc.org or bit.ly/3U58vLU.  

A program of EMDC, the Greater Bangor Recreation Economy for Rural Communities is a collaboration of community partners working to promote the Bangor area as an outdoor recreation and cultural tourism destination and place to live and work through improved connectivity, river access, collaborations, and enhancement and promotion of outdoor recreation and cultural tourism assets.