Governor Announces $1.6 Million In Local Tourism Grants

Press Release - Friday, January 14, 2000

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. George H. Ryan today announced grants totaling more than $1.6 million have been awarded to 53 communities and organizations to help develop and market local tourism attractions.

The grants will be used to fund a wide array of projects, including hosting of the 2000 U.S. Women's Open Championship in Lake County, relocating an historic aviation hangar in Boone County, helping the Paris Chamber of Commerce pay for the cost of tourism brochures, and funding a gas balloon race in Danville.

"Tourism generates billions for the Illinois economy," Ryan said. "By supporting local tourism efforts, we are helping create economic development opportunities across the entire state. These grants will help promote events and attractions that can prompt the expenditure of tourism dollars throughout Illinois."

The grants are administered by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs' (DCCA) Bureau of Tourism. Nearly $480,000 in Tourism Marketing Partnership grants, nearly $570,000 in Tourism Attraction Development grants, and nearly $561,000 in Tourism Private Sector grants are being awarded today.

"All of these grant programs give us the ability to work closely with local organizations to promote tourism in Illinois," DCCA Director Pam McDonough said. "It is these efforts at the local level that are the foundation for the phenomenal growth we have seen in tourism spending in recent years."

The Tourism Marketing Partnership Program provides matching grants for the promotion of area attractions and events three times a year. The matching grants can be used to cover a portion of the cost of promoting a tourism event or attraction, including billboard advertising, trade show participation, market studies and web site development.

The Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program provides grants to municipalities, counties and local not-for-profit groups for the development and improvement of tourist attractions.

The Tourism Private Sector Grant Program provides grants to match funds from private sector sources to attract and host new regional, national or international events which produce economic impact for the State of Illinois.

Tourism promotion efforts are funded by a share of the state hotel/motel tax. Attached is a list of grant recipients.

Tourism Attraction Development Grants

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, Cook County

will receive a $100,000 grant for the creation/installation of brass plaques, the cost of purchasing and labor in pouring colored concrete to be used in conjunction with construction of the Commemorative Walkway within the $2.2 million Hillary Rodham Clinton Park. The concrete walkway will contain plaques commemorating 400 Chicago women who have made a difference in the Chicago Community.

Naperville Development Partnership, Naperville, Illinois, DuPage County

will receive $100,000 grant for materials and labor to erect the structural steel component, for construction of the Naperville Millennium Carillon. the Carillon will be of concert quality and be one of only four in the country, and one of ten in the world that spans six octaves. The tower will contain 72 bells ranging in size from 11 pounds to the largest bell at over 5 tons.

The Canal Corridor Association, Chicago, Grundy & LaSalle Counties,

will receive a $69,365 grant to conduct a feasibility study for the communities of LaSalle, Peru, and Utica to determine the potential for tourism development, the needs for infrastructure and the feasibility of connecting the I & M Canal Trail with the Hegeler Carus Mansion. Funds will also be used to develop a Canal Boat Interpretive Plan and the feasibility of developing an unused ComEd building as a Canalport Center.

Poplar Grove Aviation Education Association, Inc., Poplar Grove, Boone, County

will receive a $100,000 grant for the removal of one of aviation's early hangars from Crites Field in Waukesha, Wisconsin and for its reconstruction and renovation at a site adjacent to the Poplar Grove Airport. The hangar will be used as the focal part of a museum complex and is suitable for aircraft displays, hand's on and static displays and as a base of operations for events such as fly-ins, group tours, automobile and airplane shows. The hangar will be complimented by other historic buildings with early transportation history displays and exhibits.

Illinois Funeral Directors Association, Springfield, Sangamon, County, Illinois

will receive a $100,000 grant to construct a 5,000 square foot museum at 1440 Monument Avenue, which will be a historical museum with a regular rotation of funeral artifacts reflecting funeral customs in the United States going back to the Civil War. The museum will be located at the entrance to Oak Ridge Cemetery and will complement what visitors see at Lincoln's Tomb.

The American Youth Hostels - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

will receive $100,000 grant for the millwork within the reception, information and travel center areas of the Hostel. These are the primary spaces where visitors will be welcomed to Chicago and interact with the hostel staff. The 500-bed hostel will be located in a seven-story building being renovated at 24 East Congress Parkway in Chicago.

Tourism Private Sector Grants

The Danville Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau

will receive $59,000 for costs associated with the 2000 Gas Air Balloon National and World Championship Points Race on June 9 - 11 in Danville, Illinois.

The Lake County Convention and Visitor's Bureau

will receive $305,999 for costs associated with hosting the 2000 U.S. Women's Open Championship July 17 - 23 at the Merit Club in Libertyville.

Jacksonville Raceway, Incorporated

receives $21,000 to help host the 2000 Midwest Midget Nationals in Jacksonville on August 11-12.

Track Enterprises, Inc.

will receive $25,000 for expenses associated with hosting the Illinois Short Track Nationals to be held in Farmer City on October 5-6.

City of Chicago, Mayor's Office of Special Events,

receives $125,000 to help host the July 20 - 22, 2000 BASS Masters Classic in Chicago.

Decatur Softball Booster Club

receives $25,000 for costs associated with the 2000 ASA Men's 40 and Older National Fastpitch Softball Championship, August 23 -27, 2000.

Marketing Partnership Program Grant Awards

Grantee	Project	Award
Ottawa Visitors Center	Billboards, advertisements	$15,480.20
Kankakee County CVB	Print the Kankakee Co. visitors guide	$5,289.18
Heritage Corridor CVB	Advertisements	$7,152.75
Blackhawk Waterways CVB	Advertisement and attendance at trade shows	$16,945.00
St. Charles CVB	Advertisement	$16,291.25
Lombard Park District	Lilac Time advertisements	$5,676.92
Lake Co. IL CVB	Print 100,000 brochures	$3,710.00
DuPage CVB	Advertisement	$29,512.00
Rockford Area CVB	Design costs & placement of advertisement	$15,251.50
Galena/Jo Daviess Co. CVB	Winter/Spring ad campaign & print the visitor	$83,595.00
IL Railway Museum	Print new IL Railway Museums brochures	$3,665.50
Stephenson Co. CVB	Print area visitors guide	$8,701.50
Galena Area Chamber/Historic Accomodations	WGN radio advertising promotion	$1,500.00
Macomb Area CVB	Spring ad campaign	$7,669.55
Henry Co. Tourism Council	Breath of Spring brochures, radio Ads and web	$1,818.40
Western IL Tourism Dev. Office	Travel/trade shows costs	$4,395.00
Western IL Tourism Dev. Office	Advertisements	$20,429.75
Shelby Co. Office of Tourism	Trade Show(s) booth costs	$2,181.62
IL State Museum Society	Print Amish Quilt Collection brochures	$2,212.00
Central IL Tourism Dev. Office	Trade Shows costs and advertisements	$4,044.00
Central States Threshermen Reunion, Inc.	Design & print annual reunion brochure	$1,624.00
Solid Gold Futurity, Ltd.	Production/placement of ads for International	$6,668.59
Springfield CVB	Print costs for visitors guides	$33,382.50
Paris Area Chamber of Commerce	Print Edgar Co. tourism brochures	$2,666.73
IL Antique Association	Design and print brochures/map	$4,031.90
Southwestern IL TCB	Advertisements	$25,313.00
Southwestern IL TCB	Advertisements in southern IL visitor guide	$24,587.50
Collinsville CVB	Advertise in St. Louis Visitors Guides	$4,175.00
Lincoln/Sargent Farm Foundation	Print brochures & advertisements	$3,941.58
Hotel Motel Association of Illinois	Print 200,000 copies of Hotel/Motel Directory	$22,360.00
Team IL/ICCVB	Advertise TEAM IL on Internet	$11,250.00
IL Campground Association	Produce directory(ies), and trade show	$8,545.50
Rosemont Convention Bureau	Advertisements	$14,775.75
Mayor's Office of Spec. Events	Winterbreak advertisements	$5,560.00
Chicago Botanic Garden	Advertisements	$6,437.70
Oak Park Visitors Bureau	Advertisements	$7,152.75
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Foundations	Spring advertisements	$11,985.50
Museum of Contemporary Art	MCA media placements ads	$11,592.50
Brookfield Zoo/Chicago Zoo. Society	Advertisements	$7,829.50
Lincoln Park Zoo	Advertisements	$5,086.00
Evanston CVB	Advertisements	$7,800.25
Total Grant Awards for 2nd Cycle of FY00:		$482,287.37