Governor Ryan Promotes Tourism Week

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today marked "Tourism Week" by continuing to promote tourism, an essential component of our economy, by announcing more than $640,000 in grants and promoting First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan's Made in Illinois catalogue.

Thirty-five local organizations around the state will share in $254,027.72 in grants awarded to assist in the promotion of tourism events and attractions in their areas. In addition, O.A.T., Inc. is receiving a $390,000 Tourism Private Sector grant to host the 2001 National High School Finals Rodeo in Springfield.

"These grants and Made in Illinois will give a welcome boost to Illinois' $22 billion tourism industry. The grants will help local organizations which spend countless hours planning events and sprucing up historic sites and other attractions increase their tourism potential," Governor Ryan said. "The Made in Illinois catalogue is a unique tourism tool, calling attention to cultural and artistic attractions across the state."

The 114-page Made in Illinois directory is an artisan gallery showcasing many of the state's premier aritsan communities. The directory is divided into three main sections representing the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the state. Each section has a full-page description of that region, complete with destinations to visit and things to see and do.

One-page profiles on 53 select artisans follow with photographs of the artisans in their Illinois community and images of their work.

"Made in Illinois takes you on a cultural tour of the Prairie State. We not only highlight crafts and works of art, but the artisans and the communities that inspire their creativity," said Mrs. Ryan. "The words 'Made in Illinois' are more than a slogan, they are a trademark of quality, innovation and beauty."

Governor Ryan said the Rodeo is a tourism highlight worthy of support.

"A recent economic impact study showed last year's Rodeo pumped an additional $6.25 million into the Sangamon County economy," said Governor Ryan. "With that kind of return on the state's investment, it makes perfect sense to continue our support of this exciting competition."

"The City of Springfield is excited that the rodeo will be returning this summer and we look forward to hosting thousands of young participants and their families," added Springfield Mayor Karen Hasara. "I thank the Governor for his assistance with this event. It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our fairgrounds, our city, and the state of Illinois."

"Fans attending sporting events tend to spend, on average, twice what the typical leisure traveler will spend while visiting a community, and stay for a longer period of time," said Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Director Pam McDonough.

The local marketing grants are awarded through the Tourism Marketing Partnership Program, administered by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA). Matching grants are provided to municipalities, counties and local not-for-profit promotional groups to help fund the marketing of tourism attractions and events that generate increased hotel/motel occupancy and travel into and around Illinois. Eligible projects include brochures, advertisements, Web site development, market research, participation in trade shows, and other promotional efforts.

The Tourism Private Sector Grant Program was created in 1994, and provides grants to match funds from the private sector for the purpose of attracting and hosting major tourism events such as conventions, trade shows, sporting activities and cultural events that produce significantly increased economic impact for the State of Illinois through overnight stays. The grant funds are administered through DCCA.

Since its inception, the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program has funded such major events as World Cup Soccer, the International Pow Wow '98, and 2001: A Soccer Odyssey.

Copies of the Made in Illinois book are available free of charge. They can be ordered by calling an Illinois Travel Counselor 24-hours a day at the state's tourism information hotline, 1-800-2CONNECT or by visiting the "Tourism Brochures" section of the Illinois Web site at www.enjoyillinois.com.

Funded annually at $1.5 million, Tourism Marketing Partnership Program grants are awarded three times each year, in April, July and November. April grant recipients include:

• St. Charles Convention and Visitors
  Bureau - $5,917.50 to print 35,000 St. Charles Get Around Guides to promote antique and outdoor recreational activities in the area.

• Geneva Chamber of Commerce - $6,155.58 to print 100,000 brochures promoting attractions and events in and around the Geneva area.

• Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau - $7,287.50 to redesign its Web site to be more interactive with online registration for sporting events and hotel reservations.

• Galena/JoDaviess Convention and Visitors Bureau - $4,060 to promote the Galena/ JoDaviess area for spring and early summer events through DCCA's Bureau of Tourism's cooperative print advertisements in Midwest Living and Home & Away magazines.

• City of DeKalb - $2,575 to place an ad in Midwest Living promoting the federally designated Illinois Lincoln Highway as a Scenic Byway across Northern Illinois.

• Village of Richmond - $4,267.50 to print 20,000 brochures promoting the attractions, events, antiques, and specialty shops in the Village of Richmond.

• Northern Illinois Tourism Development
  Office - $18,642.50 to design and print 75,000 brochures, develop a Web site, and place an ad in Midwest Living magazine promoting the federally designated Illinois Lincoln Highway as a Scenic Byway.

• Illinois Railway Museum - $3,780 to continue the annual promotion of the Chicago Weekend & Trolley Pageant, the Railroad Fine Art Show and Museum through TV and radio advertisements.

• Bishop Hills Arts Council - $3,861.30 to print 85,000 promotional brochures and 50,000 copies of the 2001-2002 Calendar of Events/Map and Directory to promote the National Historic Register Swedish Heritage attractions and events in the Bishop Hill area.

• Macomb Area Convention and Visitors
  Bureau - $10,000 to print 20,000 brochures and place print and radio advertisements promoting the 2001 St. Louis Rams Summer Training Camp to be held July 13- August 11, 2001 in Macomb.

• Nauvoo Chamber of Commerce - $7,262.32 to update and print 100,000 Historic Nauvoo brochures to promote the historic areas around Nauvoo.

• Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive
  Associates - $7,168.60 to purchase print advertisements promoting the 35th Annual Fall Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive.

• The Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District, dba., The District, Inc. - $2,518 to promote the annual It's A Happening in The District summer events through national print ads and the WGN radio ad campaign.

• Western Illinois Tourism Development
  Office - $10,000 to place a full page ad in Midwest Living magazine promoting areas along the Illinois side of the Mississippi River in conjunction with promotion of the federally designated Illinois Great River Road as a Scenic Byway.

• Rail Charity Golf Classic - $1,910 to print and distribute 60,000 brochures promoting the 26th Annual LPGA State Farm Rail Classic.

• New Salem Lincoln League - $2,425.50 to print 30,000 Theater in the Park brochures promoting the sixth annual Summer Season Performances at the amphitheater at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.

• Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association - $8,166 to print 20,000 brochures and place several print ads promoting three races in Illinois.

• Illinois Association of Museums - $4,694 to print 30,000 copies of the Family Heritage Day Directory of Events promoting 91 events celebrated June 23-24 throughout Illinois.

• Illinois State Museum Society - $1,761 to print 50,000 brochures announcing and promoting the new location of the Lockport Gallery (a branch of the Illinois State Museum) in the Norton Building, a historic stone structure located on the I&M Canal.

• Museum of Funeral Customs/Illinois Funeral Service Foundation - $10,937.50 to print 50,000 brochures and develop a Web site promoting the new Museum of Funeral Customs recently built at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.

• Route 66 Association in Illinois - $2,396.80 to promote the 75th anniversary of Route 66 by printing 50,000 brochures of the Route 66 Tour Guide.

• Illinois Shakespeare Festival - $6,480.45 to purchase print and radio advertisements promoting its annual summer theater production of three Shakespeare plays.

• Williamson County Tourism Bureau and Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau - $9,000.00 to coordinate production of several outdoor TV shows from April through June 2001 promoting outdoor activities in their areas.

• Franklin County Tourism Bureau - $7,365.25 for a half-page advertisement in Illinois Weekend Escapes promoting attractions and events in Franklin County.

• Hardin County Main Street Organization,
  Inc. - $2,664.50 to print 20,000 Hardin County Visitor Guides promoting area attractions and various events throughout the year.

• Franklin County Tourism Bureau - $5,770.01 to purchase television advertising in the St. Louis market promoting attractions and events in Franklin County.

• Rend Lake Conservancy District - $18,217.13 to place ads in several publications to promote the shooting range and other sporting facilities in the Rend Lake Resort area.

• Alexander County Tourism, Inc. - $3,177.50 to design and print 50,000 brochures introducing and promoting Alexander County to tourists in cooperation with the Forest Service's Economic Recovery Program.

• Greater Alton/Twin Rivers Convention and Visitors Bureau - $12,100 to execute an extensive TV ad campaign promoting the variety of attractions in the Grafton area.

• Chicago Mayor's Office of Special
  Events - $34,251.24 to promote early summer events, including printing 40,000 brochures for the Great Places & Spaces event, 80,000 brochures for the Gospel Music Festival, 100,000 brochures for the Chicago Blues Festival, 80,000 brochures for the Country Music Festival, and 850,000 brochures for Taste of Chicago; plus purchasing various print ads to promote the Country Music Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival.

• Chicago Chinatown Chamber of
  Commerce - $10,364.40 to redesign and print 150,000 Chinatown Visitors' Guides which will include an updated list of attractions, events, and a map of the Chinatown area.

• Museum of Contemporary Art - $2,405.20 to purchase an ad in the July/August issue of Midwest Living magazine promoting the exhibits, At The End of the Century: 100 Years of Architecture and Roy Lichtenstein: Interiors, Sol LeWitt: A Retrospective and Summer Soltice Celebration.

• Gaelic Events Club - $6,842.50 to promote through numerous regional and national publications the 15th Annual Gaelic Park Irish Festival held over the Memorial Day weekend.

• Near South Planning Board - $9,602.95 to promote the 17th Annual Printers Row Book Fair, held June 2-3, 2001, through various print and radio advertisements.