Loren Hilliard from Boise City Police Department competes in last year's Extreme Motor Officer Challenge in 2013. A new Nevada Commission on Tourism grant will help the Carson City Visitors Bureau expand on this popular event by promoting the Battle Born Brew Fest and a roller derby & tattoo contest the same weekend.
Carson City is better positioned to draw in tourists after receiving $17,200 from the Nevada Commission on Tourism, according to Joel Dunn, executive director of the Carson City Visitors Bureau.
“It allows us to build on and expand on the many ways we’re marketing Carson City to potential visitors,” Dunn said.
Perhaps the most exciting, he said, is $4,000 to partner with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office to help promote the Extreme Motor Officer Challenge. It brings in about 50-60 officers and their families to participate in the competition June 26-27 in downtown Carson City.
Dunn said the visitors bureau will work with the Nevada Day Inc. to put on the Battle Born Brew Fest and a roller derby & tattoo contest the same weekend.
“It’s part of the effort to provide ancillary events so participants will be more inclined to stay in Carson City,” he said. “We’re going to continue to build off the success the sheriff’s office has already had, and create better visibility to attract more visitors to this great, two-day event.”
The bureau also received $4,200 to maintain and host its mobile app, a smart-device guide to all the city has to offer — including recreation, arts, shopping, gaming, dining and more.
He said the bureau is working to update the app to allow users to customize it by geographic location or individual interests to filter information.
“The Carson City Visitors Bureau created the benchmark for mobile apps,” Dunn said. “We continue to fill the technological gaps to provide the best user experience.”
Another $4,000 will be set aside to produce and print 20,000 visitors’ guides, which he said are already in demand through online outlets. They also will be available for distribution at travel and tradeshows, he said.
The final $5,000 grant will be used for traditional marketing tools, such as website maintenance, press releases and newsletters.
“The grant will allow us to stay on top of the market,” Dunn said. “Not only have we rebranded Carson City, but we have maximized our search engine optimization to be on the front page of any search relating to Carson City.”
To learn more about the Extreme Motor Officer Challenge, Battle Born Brew Fest and the Carson City Visitors Bureau go to visitcarsoncity.com. The free visitcarsoncity mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android at the App Store & Play Store.