Discover Lewis County unveils new website as work on strategic plan continues

Nov. 3—A visitor looking to learn more about what Lewis County has to offer will now be greeted by a revamped home page for discoverlewiscounty.com, complete with a video showing the outdoor recreation that's aimed at "enhancing the user experience."

The 40-second video, which plays automatically when a user enters the page, highlights the wildlife throughout the county and features several East Lewis County locations, including in Packwood.

"The website enhancements are part of Discover Lewis County's effort to showcase the county's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage," the Economic Alliance said in a news release Monday announcing the revamped website. "Through innovative marketing strategies and community engagement initiatives, marketing efforts focus on highlighting the area's scenic wonders, outdoor activities, local events, and charming towns."

The digital overhaul comes after a presentation from consulting firm Arnett Muldrow showed how the Economic Alliance of Lewis County, which operates the site, can increase and capitalize on tourism in the county.

"We wanted to make something a little more fresh," said Todd Chaput, program manager for the Alliance. "We look at the website as something that you'll look at when you're outside the market."

In addition to the website, Chaput said other efforts focus on enticing potential visitors from outside the area, including marketing materials at both SeaTac and Portland airports.

The Economic Alliance is also considering developing a marketplace for branded merchandise, which Chaput said would be part of an effort to "make a brand that's marketable."

Continued use of the Discover Lewis County website and social media pages, and the expansion of brand identity into merchandise, were both included as preliminary suggestions to increase marketing during the presentation to the Alliance.

The Oct. 17 focused on preliminary findings, after Arnett Muldrow held a "data dump" session in early October. The Alliance contracted with the urban planning consultant to conduct a series of open houses, roundtables and individual meetings to learn about how to market more effectively.

After working with other clients throughout Washington, including in Kittitas County, Chaput said he's been happy with the work from the consulting firm so far.

"They were a known commodity that we're excited to work with," Chaput said.

Tripp Muldrow, a partner at Arnett Muldrow, presented three focus areas during the Oct. 17 presentation, including product development, marketing and promotion and overall organization.

Suggestions for marketing also included additional promotion of "non-recreation" activities available in the county and a marketing campaign that's reflective of visitor demographics. The suggestions came after initial data showed that visitors are disproportionately diverse and wealthier than Lewis County residents.

Data from the Oct. 2 data dump show survey respondents tend to visit Lewis County for recreation. In the survey, Mt. Rainier, White Pass and Gifford Pinchot ranked first, second and fourth as the top sites, resources and events respondents visited. The Southwest Washington Fair was ranked third.

"Outdoor recreation" was also ranked first by respondents on the "quality of offerings" in the county. The survey conducted by Arnett Muldrow polled 376 respondents, with 68% of those residents of the county who don't own or operate tourism-related businesses. About one in eight respondents to the survey were visitors to the county.

In product development, Muldrow said opportunities include additional signage throughout the county and increased offerings in downtown areas. One suggestion made by Muldrow was a potential "pocket park," a mini green space that takes up roughly a block. Muldrow showed renderings of a similar project he pitched in Cle Elum.

Chaput said part of the work for the Economic Alliance is developing a unified approach to tourism. While communities offer unique opportunities and experiences, Chaput said the Economic Alliance is "breaking down silos."

"Each has individual strengths," Chaput said of cities throughout the county, "but our strength is everything we have to offer."

The Economic Alliance will hold another session with Arnett Muldrow on Nov. 16, which Chaput said will focus on "action items" the Economic Alliance can take. The work will also include identifying potential funding sources, including grants, that could be used to make some of the suggestions a reality.

Once the consulting work is complete, Chaput said there will be plenty for the Alliance to focus on.

"Our goal wasn't just to develop a strategic plan but to implement the plan," Chaput said.