For more information contact:  

Valeria Davis, Wisconsin Dept. of Tourism, 608/266-2147

Peggy Gregorski, Kenosha Public Museum Development Coordinator, 262/653-4140

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KENOSHA CIVIL WAR MUSEUM OPENING TRIBUTE EARNS $21,417 TOURISM GRANT

Joint Effort Marketing program funds to help promote ‘A Salute to Freedom 2008’

KENOSHA, Wis. (March 29, 2008) -- Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble today announced a $21,417 tourism marketing grant to the Kenosha Public Museum to help promote “A Salute to Freedom,” a June 14-15 educational event to honor the opening of its new Civil War Museum.

On Flag Day weekend, “A Salute to Freedom” will bring the museum’s galleries to life with first-person theatrical presentations of storeowners, barbers, and soldiers from the north, their families, and a free black man who enlisted in the Union Army. The event also will feature music from the Civil War Era played by the Regimental Volunteer Band, regional artillery and infantry re-enactors performing drills and firing weapons throughout the day, and hands-on family activities.

“A Salute to Freedom” will set the tone for examining other themes in the future, like the Underground Railroad and Juneteenth Day, along with potential collaboration with other community, regional and national organizations like the National Parks Service’s Underground Railroad Network Project.

“At the Department of Tourism, we believe there is vast intrinsic value in preserving and promoting history and the arts,” said Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble. “It’s good for the visitor experience, yes, but it also defines us as a people.”

The Kenosha Public Museum grant is part of the Department of Tourism’s Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) program. The Kenosha Civil War Museum is the latest addition to a campus of facilities dedicated to preserving history and community education.

The JEM program assists non-profit tourism organizations by providing funds to help advertise events, sales promotions and destination marketing projects. So far in fiscal 2008, the program has awarded $939,312 to 40 projects. The projected economic impact of these 40 projects totals $13,848,311. The state funds up to 75 percent of the project’s first year of advertising and marketing costs. Additional support may be available for the second and third years of the project.

JEM proposals are submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and are reviewed by the Department staff and a JEM Review Committee. For more information on the JEM program, contact Abbie Hill at 608/261-6272, or visit http://agency.travelwisconsin.com. 

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