State contest will pick new highway welcome signs

A web-based poll will let Montanans pick between three proposed designs for updating the highway signs that welcome residents and visitors to the state.

The poll, announced Wednesday by the Montana Department of Commerce, will run through Dec. 31. Votes can be cast at visitmt.com/welcome-sign via a web form that will require them to enter their name, email and zip code.

Respondents can pick between the following options:

The commerce department and Gov. Greg Gianforte announced an updated state promotional brand in May, saying the new styling would be used for marketing the state to tourists, businesses and international trade partners, among other economic development efforts.

The department said this week that the contest will select a design for updated signage inspired by the new brand.

“Our highway signs give our families, friends and visitors the warm welcome they deserve,” Gianforte said in a statement. “I am excited to see what Montanans choose.”

While the poll accepts responses from people with out-of-state zip codes, commerce department Chief Marketing Officer Mitch Staley said in an email to MTFP on Wednesday that only Montana responses will be considered as part of the selection process.

The department says the state’s current welcome signs where interstates and state highways cross state lines were installed in 2014. It expects the state to install the new signage this coming spring.

Staley said the age of the existing signs means many are weathered, graffitied or otherwise in need of replacement. He said the cost of replacing 34 signs is “still being estimated” but that it will be covered from the portion of the state lodging tax allocated to marketing purposes.