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Grant County tourism reports $1.5M on hand, plans events and long-range projects
Summary
Jamie Baker of Grant County tourism told the court the office has about $1.5 million in reserve, summarized 2024 local tourism impact, and outlined event programming and long-range ideas including a possible sports complex and a proposed 'Nation Remembers' veterans event.
Jamie Baker, representing Grant County tourism, gave the court an update Dec. 16 saying the office had about $1,500,000 in its account and outlined marketing work and events intended to boost visitor spending.
Baker summarized state and county tourism statistics for 2024 cited in her packet: she reported roughly 396 local tourism jobs and cited a county-level visitor-spending figure presented in the packet (reported in the meeting as approximately $63.56 million for 2024). She described tourism programming that includes the Mistletoe Market, Music on Main, the US 25 yard sale, the Grant County Bluegrass Festival and Skeeterfest (which featured Ricky Skaggs as a headliner this year). Baker said the office also staffs historic sites and distributes visitor packets and digital materials.
Baker discussed long-range ideas and stewardship of the transient room tax. She said the tourism board is considering major multi-year projects — including the idea of a sports complex or community center — but emphasized such projects would require substantial land (she said on the order of 100 acres) and major capital and phased investment. Baker said the board’s approach is to be conservative with the transient room tax so funds are available for multi-stage projects and not immediately depleted.
On partnerships and events, Baker said tourism is coordinating with neighboring counties and the Northern Kentucky ad district, and she described an early-stage proposal called 'Nation Remembers,' a veterans-focused multi-day event that organizers have promoted to bus operators and other partners. Baker said planners expect additional meetings in January to develop the concept and logistics.
Court members asked about the tourism fund’s stability. Baker said the office is in a stable financial position, with recent quarterly income characterized in the meeting as between about $200,000 and $400,000 and with the current beginning-balance figure of about $1.5 million. She also noted statutory audit thresholds: because the tourism budget has exceeded $500,000, the office will now be subject to an annual state audit.
Baker closed by asking the court to support cautious long-term planning and by offering to provide follow-up information by email on request.
