Governor Rendell Announces $10.6 Million Investment in PAs 49 Tourism Agencies
Funding Will Aid Local and Regional Efforts to Expand Tourism EconomyHARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 14 /-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the investment of $10.6 million in the state's 49 tourism promotion agencies to help them attract more travelers with enhanced promotional efforts.
"Tourism is a major industry in Pennsylvania, creating jobs, enriching communities and helping Pennsylvania build and grow its economy," Governor Rendell said. "Every region of Pennsylvania is more equipped than ever to provide visitors with the best possible experience."
"By every measure of success, Pennsylvania's tourism industry is stronger than ever. Hotel bookings are up and more day-trippers are visiting," he said. "More than 500,000 jobs exist in the commonwealth due to the travel and tourism industry."
The base grants will be used by local TPAs to develop promotional materials, advertisements and other marketing activities. As part of Governor Rendell's support of regional cooperation, five percent of the $10.6 million in grants, or $529,400, is earmarked for set-aside funding for cooperative marketing projects in which at least two TPAs work together. Pennsylvania's matching funds grant program is the oldest and one of the largest in the nation.
Pennsylvania is the fifth most visited state in the country, with an estimated 138 million visitors annually. Travelers to Pennsylvania spent approximately $27 billion in 2006, including nearly $19.1 billion by leisure visitors on transportation, food, rooms, shopping, entertainment, and other items, representing a 20 percent increase from 2002.
For more information about Pennsylvania's tourism industry, go to http://www.visitpa.com, or call 800-VISITPA.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit http://www.governor.state.pa.us.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following TPA grants were approved for state funding:
2007-2008 MATCHING FUND ALLOCATIONS
(Base Grant Only)
County Tourism Promotion Agency Grant
Adams Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau $ 280,101
Allegheny VisitPittsburgh 962,545
Armstrong Armstrong County Tourist Bureau 30,320
Beaver Beaver County Recreation and Tourism Department 40,427
Bedford Bedford County Conference and Visitors Bureau 88,554
Berks Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau 191,065
Blair Allegheny Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau 174,317
Bradford, Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau 99,527
Sullivan,
Susquehanna,
Wyoming
Bucks Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau 240,444
Butler Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau 32,727
Cambria Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Convention and 89,517
Visitors Bureau
Centre Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau 131,869
Chester Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau 134,756
Clarion, Northwest Penn.'s Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau 148,521
Cameron, Elk,
Forest, Jefferson
Clearfield Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority 20,000
Clinton Clinton County Tourist Promotion Agency 31,355
Columbia, ColumbiaMontour Visitors Bureau 90,961
Montour
Crawford Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau 29,839
Cumberland Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau 25,000
Dauphin, Perry Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau 187,696
Delaware Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau 135,238
Erie Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau 83,260
Franklin Franklin County Visitors Bureau 7,500
Fulton Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism 3,150
Greene Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency 7,123
Huntingdon Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau 54,384
Indiana Indiana County Tourist Bureau, Inc. 35,133
Juniata, Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau 8,374
Mifflin
Lackawanna Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau 187,696
Lancaster Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau 975,000
Lawrence Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency 30,272
Lehigh, Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. 258,925
Northampton
Luzerne Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau 51,496
Lycoming Lycoming County Visitors Bureau 52,699
McKean Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau 35,614
Mercer Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau 83,260
Monroe, Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. 1,700,000
Carbon,
Pike, Wayne
Montgomery Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau 642,980
Philadelphia Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau 1,742,207
Potter Potter County Visitors Association 34,652
Schuylkill Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau 42,833
Snyder, Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau 98,180
Union,
Northumberland
Somerset, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau 381,649
Fayette,
Westmoreland
Tioga Tioga County Visitors Bureau 36,769
Venango Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism 29,382
Warren Warren County Visitors Bureau 36,192
Washington Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency 80,854
York York County Convention and Visitors Bureau 154,200
2007-2008 MATCHING FUND ALLOCATIONS
(Set-Aside Grants)
County Tourism Promotion Agency Grant
Allegheny VisitPittsburgh $ 52,000
Berks Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau 42,000
Blair Allegheny Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau 16,000
Bradford, Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau 16,000
Sullivan,
Susquehanna,
Wyoming
Clarion, Northwest Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau 35,000
Cameron, Forest,
Elk, Jefferson
Delaware Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau 58,476
Lackawanna Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau 135,000
Lancaster Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau 25,000
Lehigh, Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. 37,000
Northampton
Lycoming Lycoming County Visitors Bureau 53,575
Snyder, Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau 28,000
Union,
Northumberland
Total Allocation: $10,588,000
CONTACT:
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116
Michael Chapaloney (DCED) 717-720-1301