Deborah McLarenPrincipal and Founder Local Flavor, LLCAugust 9, 2012 Thumper Pond Resort, Otter Tail, MN

Minnesota Heartland Tourism Association

Who We Are

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The Regional Flavor Model

What We Do•C

reate linkages between urban travel service providers like MSP Tours and unique local food, art, culture, heritage and tourism entrepreneurs.

•Support the Maiden Rock Area Community Association and its partners assess and prioritize developmental issues in strengthening a localized ecotourism product.

•Provide Value-Added news content for Minnesota Association of Small Cities (MAOSC) and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) networks in Minnesota.

•Explore cross-industry regional branding and tourism product development with the Minnesota Grape Growers Association.

•Plan the 2013-2014 Ethnic Cultural Destinations Conference featuring Little Mekong, Selby Avenue Jazz and Heritage District, Little Africa, District del Sol, Native American Cultural Corridor and artists along the Central Corridor (light rail) in Saint Paul.

•Organize skill-building workshops for development and tourism professionals utilizing Network Weaver Principles, Local Flavor Strategies, and innovative social media tools, as well as the Agritourism and Festival and Event resources of the University of Minnesota’s Tourism Information Center.

•Provide niche marketing, promotional activities and website listings for numerous Local Flavor microenterprises and organizational members throughout Minnesota.

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What We Have Done•F

acilitated tourism based-marketing and usage discussions for Visit Bemidji and Wadena.

•Facilitated preservation and usage discussions and work plans for historical buildings and train depots in West Central Minnesota.

•Conducted a Value-Added Agritourism workshop in Wadena and surrounding area.

•Taught festival and events management classes in West Central Minnesota.

•Served on the Boards of the Central Region Sustainable Development Partnership and Minnesota Main Street.

•Coordinated application of Regional Flavor model with the White Earth Tribal and Community College and White Earth Development Office including model workshop and trainings at MapleLag Resort; and developed the Journeys with First Nations trail and tourism product at White Earth.

•Presented Regional Flavor model at the Rural Arts and Culture Summit, Fergus Falls.

•Taught Travel Writing for nonprofits, community and nature centers in Minnesota.

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Network Weaver Training with June Holly

•Those involved in economic and community development need different skills sets to identify issues and goals, facilitate collective resolutions or strategies and develop networks that will help realize the goals. Practitioners require excellent communication and group facilitation skills. The most successful also have the ability to form healthy, effective networks.  Where can you start to make positive change in your work, life and where you live? If you think networking can be more strategic, productive and effective - this interactive workshop is for you. The Network Weaver Handbook is available at www.NetworkWeaver.com.

• Identify, assess and map new and existing informal or formal networks;• learn the benefits of a network approach;• increase trust and effectiveness in networks;• support innovation in networks;• convene people together with similar interests to develop collaborative projects;• develop effective network strategies; and,• learn about numerous successful examples from rural America.

August 28th at the Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, MN. 50% discount for Heartland Tourism members and associates. http://localflavornetworkweaver.eventbrite.com

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Benefits of Listing with Local Flavor

•Drive local and regional food, travel and cultural markets to your website

•Participate in real time urban-rural forums concerning niche heritage, art, food, travel and cultural businesses

•Profit from academic and grassroots efforts underway in Minnesota to buy local

•Capitalize on societal interest in slow food, place –based and localized leisure experiences

•Benefit from diverse, innovative marketing strategies within a growing “local” community across the state and the Upper Midwest

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How to Join the Local Flavor Discussion

Join! Membership Levels

•Annual Basic Membership: $50 includes becoming part of a growing “local” community, part of a quality Local Flavor brand, web listing, promotions, discounts to trainings and events, marketing tips and a quarterly newsletter

•Annual Marketing Membership: $75 includes all of the above plus access to specialty marketing tools on the Local Flavor website

•Free – host your own interactive group discussions about your region, specialty products or services on the Local Flavor website, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

www.GetLocalFlavor.com

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Project Ideas & Specialties for Your Community

•Native and Rural Communities Tourism

•Trail Asset Mapping and Development

•Local Tourism Product Diversification

•Focused Skills-Building, Training and Certification Program Development

•Ideas and models of successful self-organized events that promote community sufficiency, local food and arts, health and sustainable economies

•Micro-branding food, art, and heritage

•Facilitation

•Discounted Membership Listings

•Consultant Services,

•and support for various levels of branding and micro-branding

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Questions?

Thank You!

Deborah McLarenPrincipal and Founder

Local Flavor, LLC

1873 Iglehart Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55104

Email: Deborah@mm.com Website: www.getlocalflavor.com

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