Marketing Pure Michigan: MEDC seeks marketing, advertising proposals

Aims to build the Pure Michigan brand

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to provide marketing and advertising services to help the MEDC market the state and build the Pure Michigan brand. 

“As we continue to transform Michigan by growing and attracting business, keeping talented residents here, revitalizing our urban centers, and increasing tourism, we must continue to tell the Michigan story and promote all the advantages of doing business, living, working, and visiting here,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. 

The dual RFPs seek proposals to support in tandem the state’s integrated efforts to expand Pure Michigan as a statewide brand. One RFP focuses on tourism, supported by a $25 million per year Pure Michigan appropriation to boost tourism through consumer advertising and marketing.  

Its companion RFP, funded by Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund, focuses on the MEDC’s other efforts to market Michigan overall and as a business destination. Together, the combined efforts show Michigan as an ideal place to visit, live and work with key goals including talent attraction and growing Michigan’s economy. 

In January 2011, the MSF and the MEDC made the decision to consolidate all of its marketing and communication programs under the Pure Michigan brand. The RFPs approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund today are intended to continue to integrate all of the tourism and business marketing and advertising services around the Pure Michigan brand. 

The RFPs can be viewed online here:  

http://www.MichiganBusiness.org/Business-Marketing-and-Advertising-Services-RFP 

http://www.MichiganBusiness.org/Tourism-Marketing-and-Advertising-Services-RFP 

Electronic versions of each Brand Development Phase must be sent separately to the MSF via email to contracts&grants@michigan.org by Friday, October 21, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. Proposals will not be accepted via U.S. mail or any other delivery method. 

Prospective bidders may submit questions regarding the RFP via email by Friday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m.  to contracts&grants@michigan.org. Please note: The MSF will not respond to questions that are not received by the above date and time. In addition, questions that are phoned, faxed or sent through regular mail will not be accepted. 

Responses to all qualifying questions will be posted on the MEDC’s website, www.michiganbusiness.org on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.