Contact: Michele Peters
651-296-0308
michele.peters@state.mn.us

Explore Minnesota Tourism has awarded nearly $870,000 in marketing grants to Minnesota nonprofit tourism promotion organizations to market travel to communities across the state in 2008

ST. PAUL, MN (Jan 28, 2008) Through three grant programs, Explore Minnesota Tourism supports the marketing efforts of convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, statewide tourism associations and other community tourism organizations throughout Minnesota.

"These public/private partnerships allow communities to expand their seasonal marketing, and in many cases, reach new markets," explained John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism, the state’s tourism promotion office.

More than $650,000 was awarded to assist communities in their marketing efforts, which include new ideas in consumer advertising and sports marketing. In addition, almost $23,000 was awarded for direct and Web marketing to promote the state’s scenic byways.

For the first time this year, Explore Minnesota Tourism awarded $170,000 through an innovative grant program. This program was instituted to promote new ideas in tourism marketing. Examples of innovative ideas funded are development of a kids-only Web site focusing on the history and natural resources of the area; and the creation of video footage for cell phones, blogs and Web sites.

Meet Minneapolis received support to produce a new guide to promote culinary travel in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. "Explore Minnesota Tourism’s new innovative marketing program is a unique opportunity for Meet Minneapolis to fulfill a consumer need and move our leisure tourism promotion into a new, unexplored area," said Laura McCarthy, Marketing Communications Director, Meet Minneapolis.

"As an emerging food and wine destination, we know that culinary tourism is a prime opportunity for Minneapolis-Saint Paul. With Explore Minnesota Tourism’s grant, we’ll be able to really make a statement by providing a top-notch resource for travelers. We wouldn’t have been able to produce the guide without Explore Minnesota Tourism’s support," McCarthy added.

To qualify for these grants, communities must provide 50-60 percent of the cost of these marketing programs, or more than $1 million in additional funding leveraged by these promotional grants. A complete list of tourism partnership grants is available at www.industry.exploreminnesota.com/grants.

About Explore Minnesota Tourism
As the state’s tourism office, Explore Minnesota Tourism pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state’s tourism industry strongly connects Explore Minnesota Tourism with tourism businesses and organizations.

Tourism is a $10.5 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs over 244,000 Minnesotans. More information can be found at www.industry.exploreminnesota.com.

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