Thursday, January 17, 2008
Governor Culver Announces New Grants For Out-Of-State Tourism Marketing
Thirteen Awards Aim to Showcase Iowa's Amenities, Attractions, Beauty and Hospitality to Travelers
(Des Moines) Today, Governor Chet Culver announced thirteen awards, totaling $94,123.25, from the Regional Tourism Marketing Grant Program. The program, created during last year’s Legislative Session and signed by Governor Culver, was designed to assist communities in placing advertising in out-of-state markets.
Grants were awarded to the Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB); Clayton County Development Group; Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and Mason City CVB; Clinton CVB; Council Bluffs CVB; Dubuque CVB; Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce; Glenn Miller Birthplace Society; Greater Burlington CVB; Greater Des Moines CVB; Northeast Iowa Tourism Association; Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area; and the Quad Cities CVB. Total advertising placement costs top $355,000.
“It’s time to help travelers to discover Iowa’s unmatched attractions, beauty and hospitality,” said Governor Culver. “For the first time, these marketing grants will help our communities to showcase Iowa’s nationally-recognized amenities, recreational get-aways and surprising destinations and encourage out-of-state visitors to explore Iowa’s unlimited opportunities.”
Eligible Regional Tourism Marketing Grant Program projects included advertising in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, billboards or online in the targeted out-of-state markets of Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wisconsin completed between February 1 and June 30, 2008. Grants were offered from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $10,000.
The grant program is a partnership between the Iowa Tourism Office and the three state tourism regions (Eastern, Central and Western). Funding for the grant program comes from a percentage of state gaming revenue.
Brief descriptions of the funded projects and amount of award follow:
Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau
Two insertions in Redbook and People magazines plus a two-week schedule on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. Amount awarded:
$9,500
Clayton County Development Group
Six insertions in the Chicago Sun Times Travel Section (Illinois) and one outdoor bulletin in Madison, Wisconsin, for
four months. Amount awarded: $9,956.50
Clear Lake Chamber and Mason City Convention and Visitors Bureau
A seven-week schedule in 95 newspapers in southwest Wisconsin and Northwest Illinois. Amount awarded: $5,110
Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau
Advertising on www.mystateline.com and a twelve-week schedule on Rockford, Illinois, television. Amount awarded:
$6,000
Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau
A five-week schedule on both Rapid City, South Dakota, and Kansas City, Missouri, television. Amount awarded: $10,000
Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau
A one-week radio schedule on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. Amount awarded: $5,000
Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce
A combined total of three insertions in AAA Living Wisconsin, AAA Living Illinois and Midwest Living plus one outdoor
board in Galena, Illinois, for three months. Amount awarded: $5,000
Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, Clarinda
A combined total of 15 insertions in the Kansas City Star (Missouri), Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska), Lincoln Journal-Star
(Nebraska) and St. Joseph News Press (Missouri) newspapers. Amount awarded: $5,122
Greater Burlington Convention and Visitors Bureau
A five-month television schedule in Peoria, Illinois. Amount awarded $10,000
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau
A four-week TV schedule in Kansas City, Missouri. Amount awarded: $10,000
Northeast Iowa Tourism Association
Outdoor advertising in Madison, Wisconsin, and Rockford, Illinois, for a combined total of five months. Amount awarded:
$7,775
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area
A combined total of thirteen insertions in AAA Living Illinois, Chicago Commuter, Journal & Topics, Northwest Quarterly
and The Galenian. Amount awarded: $5,619.75
Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau
A three-week radio schedule on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. Amount awarded: $5,040
Tourism is a $5.8 billion industry in Iowa, employing more than 63,400 people statewide and generating more than $290 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. For more information about Iowa tourism or to order a 2008 Iowa Travel Guide, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.