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Visit Racine County touts tourism growth and Mount Pleasant's role
Summary
Visit Racine County reported 5.7% tourism growth for 2024, $555 million in economic impact countywide and highlighted Mount Pleasant as a major lodging and event hub; the agency outlined marketing, grants and visitor-center renovation plans.
Carrie Gremming, executive director of Visit Racine County, presented a midyear update to the Village Board on June 23, summarizing tourism advertising, grant awards, events and visitor-center renovations that involve Mount Pleasant.
Gremming said state Department of Tourism numbers released June 10 showed Racine County was up 5.7% in tourism from 2023 to 2024, "which comes out to about $555,000,000 of economic impact in Racine County," and that much of that activity is concentrated in Mount Pleasant because of the hotels there. She said tourism supports about 3,780 jobs in the county and generated roughly $30,100,000 in tax revenue. "We don't expect it; all we can do is market to get the visitors here," she told the board.
Gremming outlined Visit Racine County's marketing shifts away from chasing one-off large events to promoting established quality events and the county's calendar. She cited advertising in Chicago rail systems, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, social media, and publications; named events included USA Cycling nationals (June 30), Great Lakes Water Cross, and local series such as Sounds at Sunset and Chalk the Walk. She said Visit Racine County secured grants for events (including a 'Hungry for History' grant) and is renovating the county visitor center in Yorkville with work to begin after Labor Day contingent on approvals.
Board members thanked Gremming for the update. No board action was required; the presentation was informational. Gremming invited board members and residents to upcoming events and said the visitor center renovation will include a plaque acknowledging Mount Pleasant's support.
