Groups seek tourism funds

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce and the Coulee Area Park & Recreation District each approached Electric City for money from its hotel/motel tax fund last Tuesday night.

New chamber Manager Peggy Nevsimal made the pitch for her organization, providing an outline of plans for 2013, detailing how the money would be spent to help attract tourists to the area, the purpose of the fund under state law. She spoke of the various target markets the chamber was shooting for and how her advertising campaign would work.

Nevsimal was asking for one-third of a proposed $61,416 chamber promotional budget. She has also approached councils in Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam.

Now it’s wait-and-see time.

She broke her presentation down to show how the chamber plans to attract two categories of tourists: those from under 100 miles away, and those living more than 100 miles away.

A all-new laser light show will be one of the featured attractions in promotions for the tourism season next year.

Nevsimal emphasized in her report that efforts in marketing are geared to get people to not only come to the area, but to stay a few days and enjoy the sun and water and amenities.

The marketing schemes include advertising in newspapers, magazines, radio and television and online.

Nevsimal was followed by park district Commissioner Phil Hansen, who requested $6,000 toward the maintenance of North Dam Park and Event Center. That is half the amount that the district asked Electric City for a year ago.

Hansen also plans to appear before all three municipalities that are recipients of hotel/motel tax money.

Hansen stated that the park district has entered into a 10-year agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation for operation and maintenance funding for North Dam Park, and accordingly will not need as much from the three towns. However, its own funds would enable the district to apply for grant matching monies to make improvements to the park and local recreation.

Hansen outlined the need for bleacher repair at the ballfields, repairs to the gazebo and windmill garden, and to get new picnic tables.

The requests were turned over to the council committee that handles hotel/motel money requests.