KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – The Montgomery County Commerce Department and the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) received the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award for the MontcoForward initiative.
The award was formally announced and presented during last week’s virtual conference for the primary statewide organization representing economic development professionals.
The honor recognizes unique and trend-setting use of economic development tools and concepts, overall creativity and branding effectiveness, clear and targeted messaging, presentation of information and data quality, and the program’s ability to convey the means and methods of the economic development professional.
The County Commerce Department and VFTCB kicked-off all-inclusive enhancements to the MontcoForward project in May 2019 for anyone looking to start or grow a business, or find new opportunities including: web-based data about Montco’s business climate, industry trends, customer demographics, competition and transportation, and a promotional video.
“I’m honored that we have received this recognition from the economic development community in Pennsylvania,” said David Zellers, Jr., Director of Commerce. “There’s no greater validation that we’re on the right path than this honor from our professional peers. The partnership with the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board was instrumental in bringing the MontcoForward vision into reality, and I cannot thank Mike Bowman and his team enough. From the backing of County leadership to invest in a concept that started with a post-it note on my desk, to the data that underpins the project from the Montgomery County Planning Commission and County GIS, to the support of the leaders in business, education, and healthcare that lent their voices to the video, and the professional expertise from FreshFly, and LocalIntel, this achievement is shared with everyone committed to the collaboration that will continue to make Montgomery County the place to live, work, learn, and invest.”
The collaborative initiative recognizes Montgomery County’s diverse economic base, and the critical role that location, quality of life, and tourism play in attracting businesses, visitors, families, and investors.
MontcoForward initial achievements ensure the county is a more vocal and engaged stakeholder in the region and Commonwealth for future economic, workforce, and community development, but also begins to elevate Montco’s status to one of the premiere counties in the nation, and a focal point for prosperity and innovation.
“The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board was proud to partner with the Montgomery County Commerce Department on the MontcoForward initiative,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the VFTCB. “Through promotion of the County’s 80 hotels, over 30 craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries, 50 golf courses, close to 100 miles of trails, over 200 arts attractions, more than 1,600 restaurants, and premier meeting and convention facilities, tourism is an integral part of what makes Montco the perfect place to live, work, learn, invest, and visit.”
For more information about MontcoForward visit www.MontcoForward.org. Download the MontcoForward video here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hk242yz4vq16ee0/MontcoForward.mp4?dl=0.
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes Valley Forge and Montgomery County, PA as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 500+ member hotels, restaurants, attractions, and services. The award-winning website links visitors, meeting planners, tour operators, and residents to a diverse portfolio of brands focused on reasons to visit the region.
