LaSalle County's tourism coalition on Dec. 19 approved marketing support for a wide range of 2026 community events, endorsing requests for rack cards, billboards and social-media campaigns intended to boost attendance and tourism across the county.

The coalition approved funding for Poco a Poco's 10th‑anniversary season and youth-program promotions, the Marseilles Renaissance Faire, the Hegler Karas Mansion fundraising gala, multiple heritage-site promotions for President's Day weekend, Wild Bill Days (May 30–31), the LaSalle County Historical Society rack‑card refresh, the county's large ragoo/burgoo festival, the Streeter Food Truck Festival, Camp Tuckabachee, the I & M Canal Corridor Association marketing push, Music in Knutson Park, Oglesby's Summer Fun Fest, Ottawa's Morel Fest and Burger Bash, Restaurant Week, Debate Days (Lincoln–Douglas reenactment), and the LaSalle County 4‑H show and junior fair.

Many presenters described visitor‑focused programming and concrete outreach needs. Kate Tomball, who leads Poco a Poco, said Poco a Poco "will be celebrating its tenth anniversary season" and outlined a young‑artist training program alongside a weeklong festival. John Rowe, volunteering for the I & M Canal Corridor Association, told the coalition that the association receives National Park Service support and that "that money was slashed pretty badly," making marketing revenue important to keep the Canal Center and services operating. Jay McCracken, executive director of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, described Debate Days as "a debate that shaped the nation" and highlighted plans for a Lincoln–Douglas reenactment and related civic programming expected to draw visitors.

Votes at a glance (motion outcomes):
- Poco a Poco: approved (options a, b, c — rack cards, billboard, social media).
- Marseilles Renaissance Faire: approved (options a, b, c).
- Hegler Karas Mansion gala: approved (rack cards, billboard, social media).
- LaSalle County Presidents Day passport program: approved (rack cards).
- Wild Bill Days (May 30–31): approved (billboard, social media).
- LaSalle County Historical Society rack cards: approved.
- Ragu/Burgoo festival marketing: approved (billboards, radio, social media as requested).
- Streeter Food Truck Festival: approved (rack cards).
- Camp Tuckabachee: approved (options a–c; requester said 15,000 rack cards).
- I & M Canal Corridor Association: approved (rack cards, 2‑week electronic billboard, social media).
- Music in Knutson Park (WRWO/Here and Again Inc.): approved (rack cards, social media, radio ad support).
- Oglesby Summer Fun Fest: approved (rack cards, social media).
- Morel Fest/Burger Bash and Restaurant Week (Ottawa): approved (rack cards, billboards, social media).
- Debate Days (Ottawa): approved (all three options; includes Lincoln–Douglas reenactment Aug. 21, gala Aug. 15).
- LaSalle County 4‑H show and junior fair: approved (rack cards, billboard, social media).

Most approvals were taken by motion with Bill moving and Ron or Kathy seconding at multiple points; recorded votes were unanimous 'Aye' with no opposing votes reported during the meeting's roll call actions. Several presenters supplied program details and attendance estimates (for example, organizers said the county festival drew about 90,000 attendees over the weekend), and some requests specified quantities (Camp Tuckabachee and the junior fair requested 15,000 rack cards). Where presenters gave numerical details, this article reports them as stated during the meeting.

The coalition's decisions were procedural approvals of marketing support; none created new policy or budget lines beyond the typical marketing allocations the coalition reviews. The meeting closed after a Heritage Corridor update and routine coalition governance items.