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Great Northern Blues Society awarded $7,500 to restore out‑of‑town marketing, launch shuttle
Summary
The Room Tax Commission approved a $7,500 grant to the Great Northern Blues Society to bolster out‑of‑town marketing and pilot a downtown‑to‑Rothschild shuttle for the 27th annual Blues Cafe; president Bridal Herter said weather and rising costs hurt recent attendance and noted the society has awarded about $26,000 in scholarships historically.
Bridal Herter, president of the Great Northern Blues Society, asked the commission for $7,500 to restore out-of-town marketing and to help launch a shuttle route connecting downtown Wausau hotels to the Rothschild Pavilion. Herter said the Blues Cafe is in its 27th year but has faced recent headwinds — including a March snowstorm that reduced out‑of‑town attendance — and higher costs for acts and travel.
Herter described the request as split between marketing and a shuttle; she told commissioners the organization received $6,000 of a $7,500 request last year, has given about $26,000 in scholarships since the program began, and wants to expand marketing to draw younger attendees. Commissioners discussed the marketing approach and potential village contributions to offset shuttle costs; a motion to approve the $7,500 award passed by voice vote.
Staffing and logistics for any shuttle route were discussed in general terms but not finalized in the transcript. The award is intended to increase out-of-town attendance and related hotel room nights in the Wausau area.
