Feb. 26, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caryn Gresham
304-558-2200, ext. 347
cgresham@callwva.com

Tourism Commission votes to support Governor's compromise bill

The West Virginia Tourism Commission on Wednesday, Feb. 25, voted to support Gov. Bob Wise's compromise legislation on the use of video lottery funds.

The Governor's proposal recommends that, of the 3 percent of video lottery funds now used by the commission for the cooperative Tourism Promotion Fund, 2 percent will continue to go to the grant program and 1 percent will be used for higher
education research.

By June 30 of this year, the commission will appropriate -- from its existing grant money -- $5 million for an aggressive state marketing program in the West Virginia Development Office.

In fiscal year 2005, the commission will provide $5 million of its 2 percent video lottery grant funding to the Development Office, while in fiscal year 2006 and in following years, the Development Office will receive $3 million.

Wise encouraged the commission to lift a Jan. 20 stay it placed on grants. This allows the tourism industry to continue receiving matching funds through the Cooperative Tourism Promotion Fund.

"The grant program, as created in 1995 by Sen. Oshel Craigo, has exceeded all expectations in many ways," Wise said. "The amount of money now is more than $20 million annually and the success the tourism industry is seeing is striking.

"Wherever I travel, everyone can tell me about tourism in the state," he continued. "This is an effective and positive brand identity for the state, and I want to match that success for economic development."

Following his remarks, the commission approved a resolution (below) to accept and support the Governor's legislative plan.

"The Commission is pleased that Gov. Wise sees the value of the program for tourism and believes in the positive results the grant program has brought to the state," said Dave Arnold, Tourism Commission chairman.

"I commend the Governor for asking us to lift the stay so we can again aggressively market West Virginia's tourism products," Arnold said. "We have great momentum in this industry, and we need to keep it going."

The Tourism Commission will meet March 2 to vote on lifting the stay and to discuss the strategies it will take to resume grant reviews and approvals.

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West Virginia Tourism Commission Resolution
Feb. 25, 2004

WHEREAS, Governor Bob Wise has recognized that the Tourism Commission and the tourism industry have developed an aggressive marketing program with the Cooperative Tourism Promotion program that has had a positive impact on the
state's image and its economic development;

WHEREAS, that has occurred as the result of the development of strong partnerships of tourism industry businesses of all sizes;

WHEREAS, the Governor has introduced legislation that would redirect a portion of that fund to the Economic Development Office for the enhancement of marketing and promotion efforts that would benefit other economic development efforts as
well as tourism development;

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Tourism Commission today accepts and supports the Governor's compromise bill that will allow the tourism industry to continue to benefit from the promotion grant fund at the same time as it allows the Division of Tourism and the West Virginia Development Office to work as partners in the development of a long-range marketing program that will promote the state as a special place to work, play and live.

West Virginia Division of Tourism • 90 MacCorkle Ave., SW • South Charleston, WV 25303

304-558-2200 or 1-800-CALL-WVA • FAX: 304-558-2459 • www.callwvanews.com