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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Portland dispensary fined $2,500 for handing out products in parking lot ... Surveillance video captures Medford surgery center thief ... Rogue River offers guided tour through Palmerton Park Arboretum ... Portland dispensary fined $2,500 for handing out products in parking lot ... Surveillance video captures Medford surgery center thief ... Rogue River offers guided tour through Palmerton Park Arboretum ... EASTERN OREGON Pendleton looks to rebrand to attract Seattle hipsters Tourism agency seeks $10,000 from county for ad campaign Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 23, 2015 at 2:00 AM By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 23, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News PENDLETON — Pendleton, the small town in eastern Oregon known of its rodeo and whiskey, is looking to Seattle hipsters for a tourism boost. The tourism authority Travel Pendleton last week revealed a marketing campaign it's calling the Hipster Project. It aims to market Pendleton's western flair to young urban dwellers. Travel Pendleton is asking for $10,000 from Umatilla County's economic development fund to market the city in Seattle, track the data and then target Portland next year, the East Oregonian reported. The money would be used to pay for billboards in select areas of Seattle. To appeal to urban lovers of hand-crafted wares, the hipster campaign is using the tagline: "Pendleton is handmade every day." "I think that tourism in Pendleton and Umatilla County is the largest under-utilized economic engine that we got," said Pat Beard, head of Travel Pendleton. The town draws plenty of tourists to the annual Pendleton Round-Up rodeo, and other events bring overnight guests. Most recently, nearly 5,800 people went to a motorcycle rally in July. But tourism advocates say more can be done to bring money to local businesses. Pendleton is within a 3.5-hour drive of about 7.5 million people, including Seattle, Beard said, and 12,000 drivers pass Pendleton on Interstate 84 each day. But no advertising asks them to stop in the city. "We need to capture our potential year-round," he said. Beard said he thinks the area's Western flair, including ranches for horseback riding, and agriculture tourism as "the farm to fork experience" many urban vacationers desire. Local businesses also need to advertise when they use local goods, he said, such as restaurants that incorporate Hill Meat Co. bacon or Haus Barhyte mustard, both Pendleton-based food makers. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 23, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501