Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement on the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarding a grant of $10,307,393 to Michigan as part of $314 million in American Rescue Plan State Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation funding announced Monday:
“Pure Michigan is widely recognized as one of the most successful tourism branding and economic development campaigns of all time, and we need it now more than ever as we continue to build back Michigan’s economy and reenergize our state’s tourism and hospitality industry.
“Critical funding like this grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration will help us continue to grow and evolve our successful Pure Michigan campaign to reflect today’s travel realities. The funding will help us take a proactive approach to create a more diverse and inclusive industry by providing an entry path toward a career in travel and hospitality and encouraging and supporting efforts to create a more accessible travel environment across the state.
“I look forward to further collaboration with the Michigan Legislature to secure the funding necessary to leverage these federal grant dollars that will make transformational change in our state’s tourism and hospitality industry. Together, I know that we can usher in a new era of prosperity for our state.”
The funds are part of EDA’s $750 million American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation program, which provides $510 million in State Tourism grants and $240 million in Competitive Tourism grants that will be awarded to advance the economic recovery and resiliency of communities where the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries were hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
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