Sponsorship of businesses on Montana highway exit signs has doubled in cost, pricing out some small business owners, according to KTVQ.
Montana Logos, which manages the signs, renegotiated its contract within the last year with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), which resulted in prices doubling for most customers. They refer to the signs as tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS).
Transportation officials say they increased the costs to match rising costs. According to Bob Heiser, MDT Right of Way bureau chief, the department and Montana Logos have not increased costs for years.
“We feel it’s still an affordable way for some of those businesses to have some advertisement along our interstates,” he added.
Some business owners in Big Horn County disagree.
“I just don’t understand how a company can gouge small businesses. That wasn’t in my budget,” said Kristy Mastin, owner of the Kampgrounds of America (KOA) campground in Hardin.
She received an invoice for $4,800 in February to keep her business on the exit signs. She paid $2,400 last year for the same service.
Other campground owners in the county shared Mastin’s shock.
“We can’t afford that as a small business to suddenly have one aspect of our advertising raised that much,” said Jamie Redger, owner of 7th Ranch RV Camp in Garryowen.
