Michigan Businesses: Boost Your Brand with Sponsor A Highway
Meet Sarah, a small business owner in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Like many entrepreneurs, Sarah is always looking for cost-effective ways to promote her brand while positively impacting her community. She knows investing in sustainable-focused marketing is crucial for attracting environmentally conscious customers, but finding the right solution has been challenging with limited resources and time.
One day, while driving along I-94, Sarah notices signs bearing the logos of local businesses and the words “Sponsor A Highway.”
Intrigued, she investigates further and discovers that the Michigan Sponsor A Highway Program offers companies a unique opportunity to showcase their commitment to sustainability while gaining valuable brand exposure.
Suddenly, it hits her—by investing in this program, she can promote her brand and contribute to keeping her community clean and beautiful. It’s the best of both worlds!
What is the Michigan Sponsor A Highway® Program?
Launched in 2010, the Michigan Sponsor A Highway® Program is a partnership between businesses and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to keep the state’s roadways clean, safe, and attractive.
By sponsoring a section of highway, companies like Sarah’s can demonstrate their dedication to environmental stewardship while enjoying unparalleled visibility to thousands of motorists daily.
The program has expanded to include Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing and has proven successful. With Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts reaching 166,000 vehicles on some of Michigan’s busiest highways, sponsors can expect their branded signs to be seen by hundreds of thousands of drivers and riders daily!
How Does the Program Work?
When a business decides to participate in the Michigan Sponsor A Highway Program, it commits to sponsoring a specific section of highway, typically a one-mile stretch. In return for its sponsorship, the company receives an obvious, professionally designed sign featuring its logo and name installed on the sponsored segment.
The eye-catching signs, which measure 60″ x 42″ with a 52″ x 16″ sponsor recognition panel, are placed on the shoulder of the highway facing traffic. Adopt A Highway’s expert art department works closely with each sponsor to create a custom design that maximizes brand visibility while adhering to MDOT guidelines.
And the investment goes beyond valuable brand exposure! Sponsors can take pride knowing that their contributions directly support the regular maintenance and litter removal efforts along their adopted highway segment.
Professional crews, trained and managed by Adopt A Highway, ensure that the sponsored areas remain clean and well-maintained, enhancing the beauty of Michigan’s roadways for all to enjoy.
The Benefits of Sponsoring a Highway in Michigan
For business owners like Sarah, the Michigan Sponsor A Highway® Program offers many benefits beyond traditional advertising. By aligning their brand with a recognized sustainability initiative, companies can:
Enhance Brand Visibility
With signs displayed 24/7, 365 days a year, sponsors gain unmatched exposure to a diverse and expansive audience of motorists. You’ll enjoy countless impressions from drivers, passengers, and pedestrians passing by your sponsored section every day.
Generate Positive PR
Consumers are increasingly concerned about environmental stewardship. By participating in Sponsor A Highway, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to the community and environmental responsibility, positively impacting their brand image and reputation.
Support a Sustainable Cause
Sponsoring a highway is not just about keeping the roads clean – it’s also about supporting a sustainable cause.
The Michigan Sponsor A Highway Program promotes sustainability through litter prevention, beautification, and recycling initiatives. By sponsoring a section of road, businesses contribute to these critical efforts and positively impact the environment.
Build Community Relations
Participating in Sponsor A Highway® connects businesses meaningfully with their local community.
By actively keeping the roads clean, businesses show their commitment to their community and foster positive relationships with residents and other local organizations. This can lead to increased trust and support from community members and potential networking opportunities.
The Eco-Friendly Impact of Adopting a Highway in Michigan
As a business owner, you understand the importance of making sustainable choices that benefit your company and the environment.
By participating in the Michigan Sponsor A Highway® Program, you’re not just investing in a marketing opportunity but actively contributing to a greener, cleaner future for the Great Lakes State.
Reducing Litter, One Mile at a Time
When you sponsor a highway through the Michigan Sponsor A Highway Program, you directly support the ongoing efforts to remove litter and debris from the state’s roadways. The professional maintenance crews employed by Adopt A Highway work diligently to keep your sponsored segment clean and attractive, ensuring it remains free of unsightly and environmentally harmful waste.
By reducing litter along Michigan’s highways, your sponsorship helps to:
- Protect Wildlife: Litter can pose severe threats to wildlife, causing injury, entanglement, or ingesting harmful materials. A cleaner highway means a safer environment for Michigan’s diverse flora and fauna.
- Prevent Pollution: Litter can quickly enter rivers, lakes, and other waterways, contributing to pollution and negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems. By supporting litter removal efforts, you’re helping to maintain the health and beauty of Michigan’s natural resources.
- Keeping Michigan Clean: A litter-free highway benefits the environment and improves the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding landscape. Keeping Michigan’s roadways clean and attractive contributes to a more pleasant experience for residents and visitors.
Supporting Sustainable Practices and Environmental Awareness
In addition to the direct impact of litter reduction, your participation in the Michigan Sponsor A Highway Program supports sustainable practices and environmental awareness on a broader scale.
- Your branded sign along the highway is a visible reminder to motorists that businesses like yours are committed to environmental stewardship. This can inspire individuals to adopt more eco-conscious habits in their own lives, such as proper waste disposal and recycling.
- By aligning your brand with a recognized sustainability initiative, you demonstrate to your customers, employees, and stakeholders that your company values environmental responsibility. This commitment can influence your internal practices and decision-making processes, leading to more sustainable operations.
- As a Michigan Sponsor A Highway® participant, you’re setting an example for other businesses and organizations in your community. Your participation can inspire others to participate in similar environmental initiatives, creating positive change throughout the state.
How Do You Get Started with Michigan Sponsor A Highway®?
Are you ready to join the ranks of environmentally conscious businesses making a difference in Michigan? The good news is that it’s simple to sign up and enjoy the benefits of being a Michigan road protector!
Step 1: Contact Adopt A Highway
To begin the process, Contact Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation’s friendly and knowledgeable team via phone or their website. A dedicated account manager will be assigned to guide you through the sponsorship process, answer any questions you may have, and help you select the perfect highway location for your brand.
Step 2: Choose Your Sponsorship Location
Work with your account manager to identify highway segments that align with your target audience and marketing goals. With options available in high-traffic areas throughout Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and the Detroit Metropolitan Area, you’ll have ample opportunities to maximize your brand’s visibility.
Step 3: Design Your Sponsor Recognition Panel
Once you’ve selected your highway segment, Adopt A Highway’s art department will collaborate with you to create your sponsor recognition panel. They’ll ensure your logo is optimized for maximum impact while adhering to MDOT guidelines. Review and approve the final design before it’s sent for production.
Step 4: Sign the Sponsorship Agreement
With your highway location and sign design finalized, your account manager will provide you with a sponsorship agreement outlining the terms and conditions of your participation in the Michigan Sponsor A Highway® Program. Review the agreement carefully, sign it, and return it to Adopt A Highway® along with your initial payment.
Step 5: Installation and Maintenance
After your sponsorship agreement is processed, Adopt A Highway will coordinate the installation of your sign at the designated highway location. Their professional crews will then begin regularly maintaining and cleaning your sponsored segment, ensuring it remains litter-free and visually appealing for all motorists.
Step 6: Receive Reports and Updates
Adopt A Highway® will provide periodic reports detailing your participation’s impact throughout your sponsorship. These updates may include statistics on litter removal, photos of your sponsored segment, and any relevant feedback from the community. Use this information to showcase your commitment to sustainability and communicate your efforts to stakeholders and customers.
Step 7: Renew Your Sponsorship
As your initial sponsorship term ends, you can renew your commitment to the Michigan Sponsor A Highway® Program. By continuing your sponsorship, you can maintain the valuable brand exposure and community goodwill you’ve established while furthering your support for a cleaner, greener Michigan.
Join Us In Contributing to a Greener Future for Michigan
Michigan is known for its stunning natural beauty, from the Great Lakes’ shores to the Upper Peninsula’s lush forests. Yet these incredible spaces are at risk due to human impact. As a business, it is our responsibility and an opportunity to make a positive impact and preserve the environment for future generations.
As Sarah finalizes her decision to sponsor a highway, she feels a sense of pride and purpose. She knows that her participation in the program is more than just a marketing strategy – it’s an investment in the future of her state and our planet.
Will you join other business leaders and individuals contributing to a greener Michigan? Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future. To get started, visit the Michigan Sponsor A Highway page and sign up for a section of highway near you.
Together, we can help Michigan maintain its natural beauty – and help local businesses grow!