Craig Daily Press / Chamber prepares TV programming

May 9, 2008

The owners of Stockman’s Liquor, Carelli’s, J W Snacks Gulf Coast Bar and BBQ and Mather’s Lounge and Café are looking at putting on a summer event.

Currently billed as SummerFest, organizers envision something like an outdoor barbecue festival with live music and drinks, said Christina Currie, Craig Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Tentative plans are for SummerFest to take place in the parking lot north of Mather’s on the 400 block of Yampa.

SummerFest organizers approached the Chamber to see if it would use its nonprofit status to apply for a liquor license from the city, Currie said. Only nonprofits can apply for outdoor event liquor licenses, she added.

Chamber board members said they thought the event was a good idea, but they want to know if event profits can either be used to benefit Chamber members or benefit the community in some way before agreeing.

Craig — If the general consensus among Craig Chamber of Commerce board members holds true — that Steamboat tourists are fruitful marketing targets for Craig — then a recent deal could prove valuable for the area.

The Chamber board gave the go-ahead at its meeting Thursday for Chamber officials to work with member businesses in producing 20 minutes a month of original content for Steamboat cable channel Steamboat TV18.

WorldWest, LLC, the parent company of the Steamboat Pilot & Today and the Daily Press, owns the channel.

Chamber board president Bryce Jacobson, who also is the Daily Press publisher, briefly stepped down as board president during Thursday’s meeting to introduce the idea.

“The goal to do this is for people that live outside of Craig, to get them to come here,” Jacobson said. “We’re hoping that the Steamboat audience will benefit from (our content), learn from that and come over here.”

The station is not available in Craig, but any video produced will be available at www.craigdailypress.com, Jacobson said. The project is intended to bring people into the area, he said, so its limited availability in Craig does not hurt the goal.

“This is free advertising for your business,” Currie said. “That’s a really good marketing opportunity.”

To start, Chamber programming probably would be whatever a Chamber member is comfortable putting together. Chamber officials might also produce general pieces on Craig or Moffat County, covering topics such as the business climate or upcoming events or local recreational options such as hiking and hunting.

Board members felt targeting tourists and residents up-valley is a good way to “piggyback” on Steamboat’s success.

“I think we definitely need to do that,” board member Dave Dempster said. “If we can piggyback, hopefully we’ll get some of that market over there.”

Chamber content would start as 20-minute chunks on the weekday Steamboat TV18 morning show, “Steamboat Today.” Once started, though, the situation might evolve into other things, Jacobson said.

Jacobson said he and Steamboat TV18 General Manager Mike Polucci brainstormed the idea as a way to include Craig in the station’s programming.

Going forward, Jacobson said, the Chamber will “absolutely” look to involve other local groups and organizations.

Jacobson said he came to the Chamber first because it has the best staff infrastructure to make the idea work right off the bat.

“This is the group that tends to facilitate events successfully around town,” he said. “We have a great staff and a staff big enough to handle the demand.”

Collin Smith can be reached at 875-1794 or cesmith@craigdailypress.com