TRI COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT LAUNCHES NORTHEAST WASHINGTON INSIDER
The Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD) has launched Northeast Washington Insider, a mobile app that rewards people for exploring Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens Counties. Users of the free app can earn points by simply visiting places in the region, including a multitude of outdoor recreation destinations; retail, food and beverage and lodging locations; and heritage sites. Points can be redeemed for goods or services at local businesses. The app was created using the 468 Insider platform from 468 Communications.
“Northeast Washington is steeped in Tribal and Western heritage and a wide range of family-friendly activities and adventures,” said Jeff Koffel, Executive Director of TEDD. “468 Insider has allowed us to easily and cost effectively create an app that makes exploring the region fun while promoting our local business community.”
The Northeast Washington Insider mobile app is a wayfinding tool for tourists and a way to reward residents and visitors alike for visiting local businesses. The app’s Explore button takes users to the map of the Tri County area, which has pins indicating the best destinations around the region. Clicking on each pin on the map gives more information about that place. Locations are assigned a point value, which can be collected when one is within GPS range of a location. Pushing the “Collect Points” button while physically visiting a location will add the location’s points to a user’s point total. Most point collection locations are worth 10 points.
Points accumulated with Northeast Washington Insider can be redeemed for goods or services at Rewards locations listed in the app. For instance, for 100 points (collected by simply visiting 10 places), users of the app can earn a 15% discount off their purchase at the ChewVino wine bar in Chewelah, in Stevens Country, WA.
Beyond the rewards for app users and marketing support for local businesses, the app over time will help inform TEDD about what visitors and residents find the most compelling about Northeast Washington. This data can be used to guide investment in assets that will support economic development for the region.
Northeast Washington Insider is available now as a free download on the iTunes App Store and Google Play. Businesses in the Tri County area interested in offering a reward to increase traffic to their place of business should contact TEDD at 509-684-4571.
About TEDD
The Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD) helps communities and businesses thrive. TEDD believes that the quality of life of every resident of Northeast Washington is enhanced when businesses are strong and well supported. TEDD works with local businesses, communities and other organizations in Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties to help develop a stable and diverse economy that is rich in family-wage jobs. By maintaining local and regional plans, TEDD ensures a wealth of resources, programs and services to support business development, expansion and recruitment – striving to make life better for everyone who lives in Northeast Washington.
About 468 Communications
468 Communications helps organizations be more present with their communities through creative storytelling and practical use of technology. Clients hire 468 to curate their organization’s stories to drive community and commerce, put on more engaging events, or simply create and tell better stories. For more information on 468 Insider, visit www.468insider.com.
Contact: Shelly Stevens | (509) 684-4571 ext. 102 | sstevens@teddonline.com
