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LaSalle County tourism committee approves funding for multiple local events and marketing requests
Summary
The LaSalle County Tourism Committee approved funding requests on June 20 for local festivals, tours and marketing, including $38,000 for the county’s summer campaign and $2,200 for rest-area brochure distribution.
The LaSalle County Tourism Committee on June 20 approved funding requests and marketing support for multiple local events and countywide advertising programs.
Committee members approved funding packages or marketing support for We Are Oglesby’s Classic Car Show, Skydive Chicago’s World Skydiving Day marketing, a Starve Rock Harvest Powwow organized by the LaSalle County Historical Society, the City of LaSalle’s Frosty on First festival, the Hegler Karas Mansion “Mansion Is Not Haunted” tours, the Here and Again Inc. Music in the Park series, and the countywide Flock to the Rock advertising campaign. The committee also approved a $2,200 placement of visitor guides at the Visit Northern Illinois travel centers near Belvedere.
The committee voted on each presenter’s request by voice vote. For most items the motion language was a straightforward approval of options a, b and c as requested by each applicant; presiding committee members called for “All in favor?” and recorded the motion as carried after an “Aye” response. For example, the committee approved “options a, b and c” for We Are Oglesby on a motion by Kathy, seconded by Doug, and approved Skydive Chicago’s request for targeted social media support on a motion by Ali, seconded by Doug.
Presenters described the local economic rationale for each request. Angela Partridge of We Are Oglesby said the Sept. 13 Classic Car Show is designed to be a daylong tourism draw that begins with a 5K, continues with a family car show and connects to the city’s Boots, Brews and Barbecue event to encourage overnight stays. Anthony Ebel, general manager of Skydive Chicago, said the operator aims to market its participation in World Skydiving Day (July 12) through a digital campaign; he told the committee the center collected hotel/motel tax at its on-site cabins and that past events produced some overnight stays.
Amanda Carter of the LaSalle County Historical Society presented plans for a Starve Rock Harvest Powwow in Utica on Nov. 1; Gerald Savage described anticipated tribal participation and said organizers plan two program times, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and will charge admission at the door to help cover travel reimbursements for performers. Kurt Bedai of the City of LaSalle outlined Frosty on First, a two-day downtown festival tied to the celebration of lights, and estimated the event could draw more than 3,000 people over two days and roughly 600 participants for its 5K.
Kate (Heritage Corridor marketing) requested $38,000 for the Flock to the Rock summer campaign to fund digital and television advertisements and targeted campaigns using Sojourn; the committee approved the request on voice vote. Separately, committee staff reported distributing 338 of 550 cases of the county travel guide and approved $2,200 to place guides at the Visit Northern Illinois travel centers near Belvedere.
No formal roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; motions were carried by voice vote.
The committee also discussed logistics and timing: several presenters were urged to submit requests earlier next year so the committee could consider additional marketing channels, and staff said some campaigns (digital/television) were selected because events were imminent.
