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Tourism commissioner asks for $13.5M marketing, $7.5M grants; committee moves budget to Finance
Summary
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell requested $13.5 million for marketing and $7.5 million for targeted grants; the committee voted unanimously to forward the budget request to the Finance Committee.
Commissioner Mark Ezell presented the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development's budget request and highlighted tourism's economic contribution: he said tourism supported approximately 376,000 jobs and generated about $31 billion in visitor spending last year. The commissioner asked for $13,500,000 for marketing and $7,500,000 for targeted grants, plus roughly $21,000,000 in minor capital requests for welcome centers and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Ezell framed the request as sustaining strategies that drive visitor spending to local communities, noting gains in international flights and the new Michelin guide for the American South. Members thanked the commissioner and, after questions, the committee voted to move the budget to Finance (recorded as 8 ayes).
