MEDIA CONTACT:

Valeria Davis, 608/266-2147, vdavis@travelwisconsin.com 

Grace Eckland, Lake Geneva Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 262/245-1100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAKE GENEVA WINE FESTIVAL EARNS $30,000 GRANT 

Joint Effort Marketing program funds will help promote fall event

WILLIAMS BAY, Wis. (May 1, 2008) -- Wisconsin Tourism Deputy Secretary Mark Richardson is announcing a $30,000 tourism marketing grant to the Lake Geneva Wine Festival today. The grant will help promote the inaugural fall event offering quality wine and culinary sampling, instruction and entertainment Sept. 4-7.

The Geneva Lake area, including the communities of Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, Walworth, Elkhorn, Delavan, and Burlington will host wine and culinary enthusiasts from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois – including Chicago. The festival will feature nationally and regionally-recognized vintners, chefs and Wisconsin cheese makers who will share their culinary expertise.

“Lake Geneva is the perfect relaxed setting for a weekend festival celebrating Wisconsin’s culinary wealth,” said Tourism Deputy Secretary Mark Richardson. “This area is a long-standing treasure for our urban friends to the south and east as well as a popular family destination for Wisconsin travelers. Bringing together a smorgasbord of food, wine and wonderful venues is a stellar example of providing visitors with rewarding, productive and quality experiences.”

The grant is part of the Department of Tourism’s Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) program, designed to help promote new event growth, increase participation at established events and tourism spending throughout the state. JEM grants are awarded on a competitive basis up to $40,000. So far in fiscal 2008, the program has awarded more than $1 million to 46 projects.

Non-profit organizations must match the award with self-funding and in-kind service donations by organizations and event sponsors. The state will fund up to 75 percent advertising and marketing costs for a project’s first year. 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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