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Tourism commissioner warns reimbursement delays and border declines risk state tourism projects and marketing
Summary
Heather Pelham told the House Appropriations Committee that a federal EDA tourism recovery award has $7.25 million outstanding across fiscal years, reimbursements have been delayed since January, and reduced Canadian visitation is increasing pressure on marketing and local economies.
Heather Pelham, commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing, told the House Appropriations Committee on April 23, 2025, that the state’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) tourism recovery award faces reimbursement delays and that falling Canadian visitation is putting pressure on marketing and local businesses.
Pelham said the total EDA award equals roughly $10.4 million and that across fiscal years the department still has about $7.25 million “at play” that is either outstanding for reimbursement or budgeted for future spending. “We have not gotten a reimbursement request fulfilled since January,” Pelham said, describing federal review delays.
Pelham told the committee that $1.25 million represents reimbursements the department has requested but not yet received; about $6 million is still budgeted to be spent under the award. She noted the grant uses a…
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