by Kevin Zimmermann
(WHBL) – 2020 was supposed to be a banner year for tourism in Sheboygan County and Wisconsin, with the much-anticipated Ryder Cup Golf Tournament at Whistling Straits and the DNC in Milwaukee. But the coronavirus pandemic sank those hopes, and now the state is hoping an $8 million grant program will help keep the tourism industry afloat. The money comes from the federal CARES act, and the Tourism Relief to Accelerate Vitality and Economic Lift – or TRAVEL program for short – is intended to help counter the drop in tourism caused by the pandemic.
According to Travel Wisconsin, visitors to Sheboygan County spent $243 million in 2019, generating labor income of $92.7 million and total business sales of $410 million. Statewide, 2019 was the biggest tourism year on record, generating an estimated $22.2 billion, but there’s no estimate on how big a drop 2020 will see.
Two types of grant funding will be available: one to keep tourism businesses afloat, and the other to support a safe and healthy experience for travelers and resident consumers. Tourism promotion and tourism development organizations can apply for either or both types of grant funding, but long-term campaigns not related to the pandemic aren’t eligible.
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