ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The state is setting aside $10 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for tourism support.
Gov. Tony Evers announced the funding Tuesday morning in Ashwaubenon.
“These projects should have a substantial capital component, and could include convention centers, travel infrastructure that would help visitors get around, and public or non public attractions and more,” Evers said. “The goal with these funds is not only to ensure that Wisconsin’s tourism industry continues to recover, but ensuring that we’re going to build for a stronger future for the industry.”
Local governments and tourism organizations can apply for grants of up to $3.5 million. Eligible projects include convention centers, travel infrastructure and public or nonprofit attractions – which Evers hopes will help promote, maintain, and bolster Wisconsin’s tourism industry.
Organizations like Discover Green Bay, the convention and visitors bureau, are hoping to see at least some of those funds.
“A lot of terrific projects like our visitor center were put on hold, stalled, or may have gone away completely. This is great news so we can move some of these things forward,” President Brad Toll told WTAQ News. “We’re hoping that we’re able to get our visitor center over the finish line and get it started if not this fall, in the spring.”
Toll calls a revitalized visitor center ‘really critical’ to increasing tourism spending in a community. The facility would provide local information with local people making recommendations, but it would also provide information on tourist destinations across the state.
“[Visitors] are able to get past the fear of missing out on something. There’s nothing worse than going on vacation, getting home and having someone go ‘Did you go see this?’ and saying ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that’,” Toll said. “It’s a facility for us here, but it will have information on the state of Wisconsin. So it’s really something that will support tourism in the state of Wisconsin as well, which is why we’re trying to partner with the state in getting it done.”
Discover Green Bay still has to apply for the funding.
The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, with grants administered by the state Department of Administration.
When asked if it was appropriate to promote tourism while the delta variant of the virus is fueling another surge, Evers had a quick answer – following by another encouragement for people to get vaccinated.
“We can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Evers said. “This is a tough conversation people have to have in order to make sure our tourism industry that is bouncing back with great vigor, to continue to do so.”
Despite the pandemic, Wisconsin’s tourism industry supported more than 157,000 jobs across the state and had a $17.3 billion impact on the state economy in 2020. So far in 2021, the industry is seeing recovery above 2020 numbers as travelers make up for missed vacations while reconnecting with friends and family.
The funds announced today are in addition to the previously announced more than $140 million in ARPA funding for the state’s tourism and entertainment industries.
Comments