Teton Valley Real Estate, Idaho, Driggs Victor Tetonia, Alta Teton Valley Idaho, Driggs, Victor, Tetonia, Alta Real Estate Sales

The thought of different businesses and organizations working together to promote Teton Valley for greater economic vitality is growing closer to a reality as the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Teton Valley Foundation and Grand Targhee Resort moved forward this week with the administration of a $70K grant from the Idaho Travel Council.

It would not matter how much the state granted Teton Valley to market itself if that effort was not done effectively, and many believe that this united front will best accomplish the task of drawing overnight travelers into the valley.

Initially considering a more formalized merger, the foundation and the chamber ironed out details this week that have resulted in a partnership with regard to the administration of the ITC’s 2011 grant. Included in this year’s grant is a substantial match by Grand Targhee Resort. Though located in Wyoming, national media coverage of Grand Targhee often highlights the entire region, and the resort’s General Manager, Geordie Gillett, believed that promotion of the entire Teton Valley was key to successful marketing efforts for the resort.

“We don’t have the luxury of duplicating efforts,” Gillett said. “It is ineffective for us to be up there doing our thing while the same thing is happening on the valley floor. There are ways to be more efficient in telling the story of this valley so that everyone benefits with more visitors.”

Instrumental in the creation of the Teton Valley Foundation, the organization that has helped brand this valley with cultural and recreational programming like Music on Main and Teton Basin Ice & Recreation, Gillett acknowledged that the mission of the foundation was limited. Moving forward with a partnership that included the chamber, Gillett saw a larger format for the success of all local businesses, as well as the foundation.
Teton Valley Chamber President Kevin Owyang said this year’s ITC grant set a record high, but other regions throughout the state have received much stronger funding for a sustained period of time. The McCall Chamber of Commerce received an $80K ITC grant this year and, as the home of Tamarack Ski Resort, has been awarded $1.52 million total since 1982. In comparison, the Sun Valley Chamber received $218K, and has been awarded $5.38 million over the history of the ITC’s grant cycle, over 80 percent of the Region VI’s total award.
Teton Valley is a different story. Since the inception of the ITC grant, the Teton Valley Chamber has received $483K. More than half of that has come in over the past four years, which already includes this year’s award. No one is looking a gift horse in the mouth, but the latter numbers seem out of sync with the financial support other groups in the region are receiving. Before forming a partnership with the Yellowstone Teton Territory, the Idaho Falls Chamber was receiving an average of $35K per year through the ITC grant cycle. Since 2000, the Idaho Falls Chamber put in its grant application to the ITC along with the Snake River Territory Convention and Visitors Bureau, and together the partnership has received more than $1.82 million with an award of $142K this year.

Moving into the future as partners, the Teton Valley Foundation, the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce and Grand Targhee could continue to see funding for the promotion of the area increase as Idaho Falls did.

Increased funding or not, Teton Valley Foundation’s Executive Director Dahvi Wilson has already expressed plans to develop a Winter Fest, filling out the organization’s calendar with more reasons to visit Teton Valley.
While the development of strategic partnerships is an ongoing process, it seems apparent that, working together, the foundation and the chamber will support one another’s missions, enhancing the image of Teton Valley while supporting its overall economic vitality.

Destination: Teton Valley
August 31, 2011
By Hope Strong

Foundation and Chamber work together to score biggest state grant yet

The thought of different businesses and organizations working together to promote Teton Valley for greater economic vitality is growing closer to a reality as the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Teton Valley Foundation and Grand Targhee Resort moved forward this week with the administration of a $70K grant from the Idaho Travel Council.

It would not matter how much the state granted Teton Valley to market itself if that effort was not done effectively, and many believe that this united front will best accomplish the task of drawing overnight travelers into the valley.

Initially considering a more formalized merger, the foundation and the chamber ironed out details this week that have resulted in a partnership with regard to the administration of the ITC’s 2011 grant. Included in this year’s grant is a substantial match by Grand Targhee Resort. Though located in Wyoming, national media coverage of Grand Targhee often highlights the entire region, and the resort’s General Manager, Geordie Gillett, believed that promotion of the entire Teton Valley was key to successful marketing efforts for the resort.

“We don’t have the luxury of duplicating efforts,” Gillett said. “It is ineffective for us to be up there doing our thing while the same thing is happening on the valley floor. There are ways to be more efficient in telling the story of this valley so that everyone benefits with more visitors.”

Instrumental in the creation of the Teton Valley Foundation, the organization that has helped brand this valley with cultural and recreational programming like Music on Main and Teton Basin Ice & Recreation, Gillett acknowledged that the mission of the foundation was limited. Moving forward with a partnership that included the chamber, Gillett saw a larger format for the success of all local businesses, as well as the foundation.
Teton Valley Chamber President Kevin Owyang said this year’s ITC grant set a record high, but other regions throughout the state have received much stronger funding for a sustained period of time. The McCall Chamber of Commerce received an $80K ITC grant this year and, as the home of Tamarack Ski Resort, has been awarded $1.52 million total since 1982. In comparison, the Sun Valley Chamber received $218K, and has been awarded $5.38 million over the history of the ITC’s grant cycle, over 80 percent of the Region VI’s total award.
Teton Valley is a different story. Since the inception of the ITC grant, the Teton Valley Chamber has received $483K. More than half of that has come in over the past four years, which already includes this year’s award. No one is looking a gift horse in the mouth, but the latter numbers seem out of sync with the financial support other groups in the region are receiving. Before forming a partnership with the Yellowstone Teton Territory, the Idaho Falls Chamber was receiving an average of $35K per year through the ITC grant cycle. Since 2000, the Idaho Falls Chamber put in its grant application to the ITC along with the Snake River Territory Convention and Visitors Bureau, and together the partnership has received more than $1.82 million with an award of $142K this year.

Moving into the future as partners, the Teton Valley Foundation, the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce and Grand Targhee could continue to see funding for the promotion of the area increase as Idaho Falls did.

Increased funding or not, Teton Valley Foundation’s Executive Director Dahvi Wilson has already expressed plans to develop a Winter Fest, filling out the organization’s calendar with more reasons to visit Teton Valley.
While the development of strategic partnerships is an ongoing process, it seems apparent that, working together, the foundation and the chamber will support one another’s missions, enhancing the image of Teton Valley while supporting its overall economic vitality.      

 Contact Dave Dery to discuss Teton Valley Idaho and Wyoming real estate. 208-709-4155, dave@altaraelty.com.

Your Teton Valley Realtor.