Northern Mich. Republicans involved about Pure Michigan after federal COVID aid cash dries up
State Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord) and different Republican lawmakers despatched a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the chairs of the Home and Senate Appropriations Committees on July 24, condemning cuts to the Pure Michigan marketing campaign in the newest state price range.
In response to an evaluation from the Home Fiscal Company of the Fiscal Yr 2024 price range Whitmer signed Monday, the state eliminated $15 million in one-time federal funding for the marketing campaign from the American Rescue Plan Act — which was enacted throughout the COVID pandemic — that was included within the Fiscal Yr 2023 price range.
Alongside the $15 million in federal funding, the FY 2023 price range included $15 million from the Basic Fund, and $10 million from native and personal funds for potential partnerships. The Fiscal Yr 2024 price range, which fits into impact Oct. 1, supplies the marketing campaign with $15 million from the Basic Fund and $10 million in native and personal funding choices.
Reps. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), John Roth (R-Interlochen), Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) and Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) co-signed on Borton’s letter, which shared issues that northern Michigan’s tourism business would endure with much less funding for the marketing campaign.
“Pure Michigan has been a major drive in bolstering the state’s tourism business and showcasing the distinctive magnificence and points of interest of Northern Michigan. By reducing funding for Pure Michigan, Northern Michigan will probably be particularly devastated due to its heavy reliance on tourism,” Borton wrote.
Copies of the letter have been despatched to Whitmer, in addition to the Home Appropriations Committee Chair Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing).
Anthony, Witwer and Borton couldn’t be reached for remark.
When the Advance requested about Borton’s letter, Whitmer’s workplace responded with an emailed assertion from Stacey LaRouche, Whitmer’s press secretary.
“Governor Whitmer has been on a mission to make Michigan a prime place to stay, work, and play. That’s why she’s introduced collectively lawmakers on each side of the aisle to spice up our state’s financial competitiveness, improve funding in our pure Michigan out of doors economic system and tourism, and rebuild the infrastructure round our vibrant downtowns,” the assertion stated.
“This work is important to land main occasions that drive tourism, just like the 2024 NFL Draft, and may result in worldwide recognition, like when Detroit was not too long ago named TIME’s World’s Best Locations of 2022. Governor Whitmer appears to be like ahead to proceed making investments in our bustling downtowns and rising our state’s repute as a spot to be.”
The governor’s workplace stated Pure Michigan would nonetheless run adverts exterior of the state. It additionally highlighted its $15 million Pure Alternatives advertising and marketing marketing campaign by the Michigan Financial Growth Corp. (MEDC) which is concentrated on attracting folks and companies to the state.
In his letter, Borton voiced concern that restricted sources would result in a much less efficient marketing campaign.
Nick Nerbonne, media, digital and business relations director for Journey Michigan, a part of the MEDC that manages tourism and promotion, stated this system works to maximise the funding out there every year.
“We work with our company companions to say ‘We wish to attain vacationers who’re concerned with visiting Michigan, let’s make certain we’re in the best media, efficient markets, to achieve vacationers who wish to go to Michigan,’” Nerbonne stated.
“We simply work with what now we have out there to us, and that’s how we function every year,” he stated.
Moreover, there are different price range gadgets that present help for the business that aren’t included as line gadgets below Pure Michigan, Nerbonne stated.
“For instance, there’s $10 million to help conference and enterprise bureaus throughout the state. There are particular funding for occasions and different services that deliver vacationers from throughout the nation and world wide to numerous places in Michigan,” Nerbonne stated. “There’s even $100 million in grant funding for infrastructure that talks about enhancements to conference facilities, museums, performing arts venues.”
“Michigan’s tourism business is the very best in America, and folks journey from all around the world to go to right here. And the business is being supported on a bunch of various ranges right here. So it’s not simply the promoting, the infrastructure, it’s the venues and the places after which additionally there’s cash within the price range to draw particular occasions,” Nerbonne stated.
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