Media Contact:

Valeria Davis, 608/266-2147

E-mail: vdavis@travelwisconsin.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOURISM AWARDS 10 JOINT EFFORT MARKETING GRANTS 

Grants support local economies by driving traveler spending

MADISON, Wis. (Feb. 18, 2008) – Ten non-profit organizations and community agencies have been awarded $230,692 in Wisconsin Department of Tourism Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grants to drive up attendance at events and traveler spending in their area.

“Our latest grant recipients showed tremendous creativity toward growing the tourism economy, and the diversity of new offerings is amazing, from bird watching and culinary travel, to the arts and the only traveling black rodeo in the nation,” said Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble. “Our JEM grant program has the heartfelt support of Governor Jim Doyle, as he has long championed initiatives that put the spotlight on Wisconsin as a marvelous state in which to vacation, live and work.”

The events and recipients awarded JEM grants include:

• Good Hope Development Corp., $34,550, to bring the Bill Pickett National Black Rodeo to Wisconsin; 
• Bayfield County Tourism, $16,800 for the second year of the Chequamegon Birding Festival; 
• Milwaukee Art Museum, $38,191, for the Gilbert & George retrospective art exhibit; 
• Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center, $13,020, to promote the Groovin’ Sisterhood getaway weekend; 
• South Central WI Model Railroad Association, $5,490, to promote the MadCity Model Railroad Show; 
• Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, $25,021, MMoCA Design art-inspired interior design show; 
• Oshkosh Public Museum, $27,990, to promote the President and the Tsar Exclusive Midwest Exhibit; 
• Rhinelander Area Chamber, $15,500, for the Rhinelander Sales Promotion; 
• Paper Arts Festival, to promote the $31,605, for the Fox Cities Book Festival; 
• City of Sheboygan Tourism, $22,525, to promote Sippin’ on Sheboygan’s Shore wine-tasting event.

JEM grants of up to $39,550, are matched with self-funding and in-kind service donations by organizations and event sponsors that are launching a new event, trying to boost attendance at an existing event by opening new markets, or regions that have a coalition of businesses willing to sponsor a sales promotion to raise the region’s profile as a travel destination. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.

So far in fiscal 2008 (July 1, 2007-June30, 2008), $709,465 in Joint Effort Marketing grant funding has been awarded to 20 Wisconsin non-profit organizations across the state. In the 2007 fiscal year, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism reviewed 98 JEM applications, funding 59 of them. It is estimated that those grants will generate an additional $30 million in traveler spending to the participating communities.

The JEM program provides funds for destination marketing projects, sales promotions, and new, existing and one-time, one-of-a-kind events. The JEM program can fund up to 75 percent of a project’s first year advertising and marketing costs. The program may also provide second and third year support for some projects with decreasing amounts each year until the projects become self-sustaining.

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