LaSalle County tourism committee OKs a slate of event marketing grants totaling tens of thousands

LaSalle County Tourism Committee members on March 21 approved a series of marketing and promotion requests from municipalities, nonprofts and event organizers, clearing funding for festivals, a countywide summer campaign and targeted advertising intended to bring visitors and hotel stays to the county.

The actions included standard in‑kind marketing support (rack cards, billboards and social media) for more than a dozen events and targeted cash support for larger multimedia campaigns. Amanda (county staff) told the committee, “If all funding requests are approved today, it will be $99,540,” and said the group could also draw on $238,000 in cash on hand to cover additional requests beyond the $100,000 line in the budget.

Why it matters: the committee uses pillow (hotel) tax revenue to fund marketing that aims to increase overnight stays and spending in LaSalle County. Approvals at the March meeting included longstanding local festivals and two larger campaigns that county staff and partners said are designed to reach suburban Chicago and other markets more than 50 miles away.

Most approvals were routine voice votes. The committee approved funding for the Marseilles Renaissance Fair, StreeterFest, A Moment of Awe (Utica), a postcard/video campaign led by North Utica and Starrock Lodge (a $50,000 project with a $20,000 county request), Market on Mill in North Utica, Pluto Fest and other local festivals. The Canal Quarter Association won approval for continued bike‑share stations and canal boat operations and an $11,490 marketing request for LaSalle. The county also approved the countywide summer campaign (branded this year as “Appetite for Adventure”) for roughly $25,000 toward a $74,350 plan. Where the transcript recorded dissent, votes were reflected in the minutes: Ottawa Family Pride Fest passed despite two recorded nays.

Details and examples

- Marseilles…