MEDIA CONTACT:
Danielle Johnson, Wisconsin Department of Tourism
608-266-0458; djohnson@travelwisconsin.com
Dave Blank, Real Racine
262-884-6405; dblank@racine.org
Marketing and sports grants will help more travelers discover Racine
RACINE, Wis. (Nov. 29, 2012) – Real Racine received two tourism grants today totaling $43,745 from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. A $39,500 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant and $4,245 Ready, Set, Go! grant were presented by Regional Tourism Specialist David Spiegelberg. The Year-3 Destination Marketing grant provides funds to further promote the Racine area and the Ready, Set, Go! grant assisted Racine with hosting the 2012 Racine Biggest Loser Run/Walk.
“Racine County is another example of a true Wisconsin hidden gem,” said Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett. “From their lakefront, arts and cultural attractions and fine restaurants, Racine, through these destination and sports marketing initiatives, is in a position to see a significant increase in traveler spending, creating positive economic impact for the whole area.”
In fiscal 2012, the Department funded 50 Joint Effort Marketing projects, awarding a total of over $1.1 million dollars. Visitor expenditures driven by the marketing from these projects will exceed $29 million. In addition, 11 Ready, Set, Go! sports marketing grants, totaling $121,900, were awarded in fiscal 2012, resulting in an estimated $19.8 million in visitor spending. Traveler spending in Racine County topped $203 million in 2011, supporting over 3,900 jobs and $24 million in state and local taxes.
Real Racine looks to promote their brand and increase awareness of the variety of year round activities in Racine to target audiences. Year three of the project uses grant funds to create a webisode series to showcase area attractions and events. Each webisode will profile an attraction, including the passionate people behind the business, how the attraction was restored or renovated, and how the business is involved in the community
Real Racine also received a Ready Set Go grant for The Racine Biggest Loser Run/Walk in 2012. Racine’s beautiful lakefront will be the site of a Biggest Loser Run/Walk event for three years. The course winds through downtown Racine and heads north along the award-winning North Beach. NBC has shot video in Racine to be used to promote the nationwide race series on the upcoming season of the very popular television show as well as on biggestloser.com and biggestloserrunwalk.com .
“The Destination Development JEM grant has allowed us to do some creative marketing that we normally would not be able to do,” said Dave Blank, Real Racine President. “We are very excited to be working with Milwaukee-based AboutFace Media on the creation and optimization of the two-minute mini-movies. The goal is to use this as a springboard into helping us leverage additional public/private funding supporting the Real Racine brand.”
Destination Marketing funds are available to non-profit organizations for the promotion of at least three municipalities or communities. Two options are available for Destination Marketing grants. A development option allows the applicant to use a vendor of their choice to provide project deliverables. A second option allows an organization to use their own strategic planning research to conduct marketing campaigns.
The Ready, Set, Go! grant program provides matching funds to secure bid fees, venues and municipal services to help communities develop new events or steer established sporting events to the state and grow the economy through traveler spending.
For information on all of the Department of Tourism grant programs, visit http://industry.travelwisconsin.com.
The mission of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism is to market the State as the Midwest’s premier travel destination by executing industry-leading marketing programs and establishing strategic partnerships. The Department plays a significant role in generating greater economic impact and jobs for Wisconsin. The portal for traveler information can be found at: http://www.travelwisconsin.com.
