For the first time in several years, communities across Iowa are getting state assistance to pay for advertising in out-of-state markets. The Regional Tourism Marketing Grant Program has split $94,123 among 13 applicants. The grants will cover ads in publications, on radio, TV and billboards, and online. Jessica O’Riley, with the Iowa Tourism Office, offers an example of one of the projects.
"Clear Lake and Mason City have combined and they’re purchasing a seven-week ad schedule in 95 newspapers in southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois to promote their communities and attractions," O’Riley told Radio Iowa. A number of communities in eastern Iowa are targeting residents of Illinois with their ads. Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities are even placing ads on WGN Radio in Chicago.
O’Riley says the Iowa Tourism Office will run TV ads in Chicago for the first time in six years this spring, "So, I think a lot of the people that applied took advantage of our exposure already there and they’re going to piggy-back on that and get a little more bang for their buck, coming in around the same time and promoting in the same area," O’Riley said. Funding for the Marketing Grant Program comes from a portion of state gaming revenue. The targeted out-of-state markets include Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The funded projects are as follows:
Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau: Two insertions in Redbook and People magazines plus a two-week schedule on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. Amount awarded: $9,500. Clayton County Development Group: Six insertions in the Chicago Sun Times Travel Section (Illinois) and one outdoor bulletin in Madison, Wisconsin, for four months. Amount awarded: $9,956. Clear Lake Chamber and Mason City Convention and Visitors Bureau: A seven-week schedule in 95 newspapers in southwest Wisconsin and Northwest Illinois. Amount awarded: $5,110. Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau: Advertising on www.mystateline.com and a twelve-week schedule on Rockford, Illinois, television. Amount awarded: $6,000. Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau: A five-week schedule on both Rapid City, South Dakota, and Kansas City, Missouri, television. Amount awarded: $10,000. Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau: A one-week radio schedule on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. Amount awarded: $5,000. Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce: A combined total of three insertions in AAA Living Wisconsin, AAA Living Illinois and Midwest Living plus one outdoor board in Galena, Illinois, for three months. Amount awarded: $5,000. Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, Clarinda: A combined total of 15 insertions in the Kansas City Star (Missouri), Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska), Lincoln Journal-Star (Nebraska) and St. Joseph News Press (Missouri) newspapers. Amount awarded: $5,122. Greater Burlington Convention and Visitors Bureau: A five-month television schedule in Peoria, Illinois. Amount awarded $10,000. Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau: A four-week TV schedule in Kansas City, Missouri. Amount awarded: $10,000. Northeast Iowa Tourism Association: Outdoor advertising in Madison, Wisconsin, and Rockford, Illinois, for a combined total of five months. Amount awarded: $7,775. Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area: A combined total of thirteen insertions in AAA Living Illinois, Chicago Commuter, Journal & Topics, Northwest Quarterly and The Galenian. Amount awarded: $5,619.75. Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau: A three-week radio schedule on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. Amount awarded: $5,040.