Federal grant to help the Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau
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[June 22, 2021]
By Kevin Bessler
(The Center Square) – The much-beleaguered
Illinois tourism industry just got a shot in the arm.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has granted a $1 million
COVID-19 Revamp Recovery Project award to the Illinois Council of
Convention and Visitors Bureaus. The funding is specifically for
creating marketing campaigns that highlight small businesses.
Congressman Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said the grant is a small
example of what they are doing at the federal level to drive tourism and
get people out enjoying life while supporting small businesses.
“It allows then to be able to market what everybody used to enjoy
pre-pandemic before they were shut down, and remind them why they want
to come to our communities,” Davis said.
Katherine McLaughlin, marketing coordinator with Experience DeKalb
County, said her organization may now be able to expand its marketing
areas, which were limited during the pandemic.
“With the pandemic, we were really focusing on 55 miles and in just
because a lot of people were taking road trips and day road trips and
stuff,” McLaughlin said.
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McLaughlin said it is an exciting time with events
being booked and hotels filling up.
Teri Hammel, executive director of the Decatur Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau said “we are doing very well, with 4
softball tournaments coming in, the Farm Progress Show in August,
and the IHSA Softball Tournament just to name a few.”
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Visitors to Illinois spent more than $41 billion in 2018, according
to the U.S. Travel Association. State and local tax revenue
generated from visitor spending amounted to $3.3 billion.
State officials say the federal money is also funding the state’s
ongoing “Time for Me to Drive” campaign, which encourages residents
and tourists to road trip around Illinois.
Disbursements of the funds throughout the state are still in the
discussion stage. |