AUGUSTA – The Maine Office of Tourism announced the awarding of almost $700,000 in grants to several regional tourism organizations as part of the Maine Tourism Marketing Partnership Program, according to Nathaniel Bowditch, acting director of the Office of Tourism.

“I am delighted to announce that 10 regional promotional groups and organizations will share in almost $700,000 made possible through the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund established by an act of the 120th Legislature,” Bowditch said.

Bowditch explained that the main objective of the marketing partnership program is to create and implement programs designed to stimulate and expand the travel industry within Maine’s eight tourism regions.

“The program’s aim is to strengthen the state’s image by coordinating the promotional efforts of the private sector with those of the Office of Tourism,” Bowditch said. A secondary objective is to support the development of major special events that will attract visitors to Maine and that provide an impact on two or more regions.

Mark Turek, product development manager of the Office of Tourism, noted, “The funds available for the regional tourism program are based on a percentage of tax revenue generated by tourism spending from the previous fiscal year.

“In fact, the amount of money we award in grants is only a small portion of the tax money raised through tourism spending,” he added.

For this year, regional and special event applications approved include:

Aroostook County Tourism Region, $73,295;

DownEast & Acadia Tourism Region, $73,200;

The Greater Portland and Casco Bay Tourism Region, $73,000;

The Kennebec & Moose River Valleys Tourism Region, $73,300;

Maine’s Lakes and Mountains Tourism Region, $73,300;

The Mid Coast Tourism Region, $72,318;

The Maine Highlands Tourism Region, $71,805;

The Southern Maine Coast Tourism Region, $73,170;

The National Folk Festival, $50,500;

and the Ste-Croix 2004 Celebration, $53,000.

“The money is used to help the regions promote themselves in a way that makes sense for each of them,” Turek said. “The funds assist the regions with targeted marketing for specific seasons, activities or events.

“In fact, when it comes to marketing Maine, and raising the awareness of what we have to offer year-round, these funds are extremely important,” Turek added.

For Dina Jackson, coordinator of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) for Maine’s Lakes and Mountains Tourism Region, the grants are a welcome addition.

“We used our $47,110 from last year to advertise, have our Web site redesigned, create regional packages and raise the image of our region throughout New England,” she said.

Jackson meets monthly with the nine chambers of commerce in her region in an effort to direct the grants in the most effective way. “This year we want to expand our reach a bit,” she said, “and we hope to ride the coattails of the Office of Tourism and do a bit of radio advertising in the Greater Boston area.”

Turek noted, “By each region promoting itself in various publications and in different ways, we are definitely creating more awareness about Maine.”

Bowditch said he is especially pleased with the Maine Tourism Marketing Partnership Program because, “This program and these grants will have a positive impact on Maine’s overall tourism effort both in the short and long term, and all support the objectives of the Office of Tourism’s five-year strategic plan.”