Twice a year the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has to hand out 2% of its casino gaming revenue to local units of government.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Visitors from around the state and the country is what boosts the tourism industry and ultimately the economy.
"We come up here probably four or five times each season. we go skiing at Crystal Mountain, Boyne...but we generally like to stay here in the Traverse City area," says tourist from Port Huron, Lane Robinson.
Robinson and his family say it's local attractions and advertisements like the Pure Michigan campaign that have him returning to the area.
"There's so much for us here as far as restaurants, hotels, activities," says Robinson.
To help generate more exposure for campaigns like Pure Michigan and tourism in general, funding from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is being put to use.
The Grand Traverse Band has to hand out 2% of its casino gaming revenue to local units of government. $75 thousand of the funds are going towards the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"What that's going to enable us to do is to participate in travel Michigan's Pure Michigan partnership program this year in a significant market like Chicago where the $75 thousand will be matched with an additional $75 thousand from the Pure Michigan campaign. That will give us $150 thousand worth of media buying power in the Chicago market," says president of the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Van Dommelen.
Van Dommelen says the tourism industry is pushing heavily for out of state visitors to travel to northern Michigan...and the funding enhances that opportunity.
"This particular funding will give us what we need in order to participate in that partnership program for the Chicago market to receive those matching funds of another $75 thousand for the Pure Michigan campaign," says Van Dommelen.
