Idaho Travel Council Announces Annual Grant Awards

Idaho Tourism Logo

NEWS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

Contact: Laurie McConnell
Idaho Tourism
208.287.0781
laurie.mcconnell@tourism.idaho.gov

Idaho Travel Council Announces Annual Grant Awards
Over $4.5 Million Awarded for Tourism Promotion

BOISE, Idaho—August 3, 2016—During its summer meeting held in Lava Hot Springs this week, the Idaho Travel Council (ITC) granted over $4.5 million in tourism marketing funding to non-profit organizations through the Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant Program.

Eligible award recipients include non-profit local and regional tourism development organizations such as chambers of commerce, and convention and visitors bureaus. The organizations use their awarded grant dollars to promote cities, towns and regions of the state as tourist destinations. Program elements are varied, but often include print and digital advertising, brochures, attendance at travel shows, public relations, direct mail, industry research, and the creation of web sites.

“These grants are critical to the support of Visit Idaho’s core mission – to increase travel and visitor expenditures throughout all of Idaho in order to increase tax revenues and employment,” said Idaho Commerce Director Megan Ronk.

Fiscal Year 2017 grant award recipients are:

Applicant Amount Awarded
REGION 1
Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau $525,000
Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce $152,000
North Idaho Tourism Alliance (NITA) $105,000
Post Falls Chamber of Commerce $74,000
REGION 2
Visit Lewis Clark Valley $67,000
Kamiah Chamber of Commerce $40,962
Moscow Chamber of Commerce $64,000
North Central Idaho Travel Assoc (NCITA) $20,000
Orofino Chamber of Commerce $17,500
Salmon River Chamber of Commerce $32,000
REGION 3
Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau (BCVB) $830,850
Cascade Chamber of Commerce $56,100
McCall Area Chamber of Commerce $266,265
Nampa Chamber of Commerce $50,820
Southwest Idaho Travel Assoc (SWITA) $396,560
REGION 4
Southern Idaho Tourism (SIT) $310,608
REGION 5
Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) $43,000
Pioneer Country Travel Council $113,750
Pocatello Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) $141,018
REGION 6
Snake River Territory Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) $180,000
Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) $60,000
Yellowstone Teton Territory (YTT) $321,515
REGION 7
Hailey Chamber of Commerce $56,020
Lemhi County Economic Development Assoc $24,500
Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce $42,637
Sun Valley Marketing Alliance Inc $251,414
MULTI REGION
Idaho Bed & Breakfast Assoc (IBBA) $36,350
Idaho Outfitters & Guides Assoc (IOGA) $86,150
Idaho RV Campgrounds Assoc (IRVCA) $94,831
Idaho Ski Areas Assoc (ISAA) $64,250
Total ITC Grant Awards $4,524,100

Tourism is a more than $4 billion dollar industry in Idaho. Idaho Department of Commerce – Tourism Development activities are funded by a two-percent tax, paid by travelers and collected by the state’s hotel, motel, and private campground owners. Forty-five percent of the funds are used for statewide programs targeted to international and domestic consumers, tour operators, travel agents, and travel journalists. Another forty-five percent is distributed back to communities through the grant program. The remaining ten percent is used for administration of the division.

For a history of the grant awards, click here.

For a complete list of Idaho Travel Council members, click here.

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Posted in Communities, Travel