Ecovision Sustainable Learning Center Awarded $39,549 Tourism Grant

Jan. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- Delavan, WI 1/5/2010 – The EcoVision Sustainable Learning Center has received a $39,549 Joint Effort Marketing grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to promote EcoFair360, a three-day exposition for green energy, sustainable building and the green lifestyle which will be presented at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on July 16-18. “This event will have a major economic impact on the Walworth County area,” says event coordinator Catherine McQueen. “We are planning for 15,000 attendees, and anticipate that 24% of them, or 3,600 people, will stay overnight. There will be space for 300 exhibitors and vendors, and we anticipate that with two people per table, 30% of the 600 people, or 180, will do multiple overnight stays. This will generate over a million dollars in lodging, retail, food and beverage business.”

“The Joint Effort Marketing grants awarded to this deserving tourism promotion demonstrates the power of travel and its ability to generate significant economic benefits,” Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble said.  “Every dollar awarded through the Joint Effort Marketing grant program last year produced a 10-fold return-on-investment while allowing individual communities to make an impact on their local economies and remain viable in a very competitive market.”  

EcoFair360 is a new event showcasing all things green. From the experienced green builder looking to catch up on the latest technology to the new parent looking to raise a more environmentally aware child, everyone who attends should come prepared to learn, to enjoy, and to be inspired. Workshops and seminars will cover everything from renewable energy, sustainable living practices, green building and green transportation to gardening and landscaping, health and fitness and food and nutrition. Sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and attendees can learn more at www.ecofair360.org.The JEM funds will be used for print and online marketing campaigns and public relations outreach.

“EcoFair360 welcomes all who have a concern for the planet and a desire to learn more about living a green lifestyle”, said Fritz Kreiss, one of the event creators and managers. “The additional funding from JEM will allow us access into markets such as the Chicagoland area, Northern Indiana, Milwaukee and Madison with a focused marketing plan. We want our county of Walworth to be known as one of the greenest places in Wisconsin.”

Joint Effort Marketing grant funds are available to non-profit organizations for the promotion of Wisconsin tourism events and destinations.  The state can fund up to 75 percent of a project's first year advertising and marketing costs and provides support for second and third year projects, but with decreasing amounts for funding each year until projects become self-sustaining.  

Information and applications are available on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism website http://industry.travelwisconsin.com.

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Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable living through education and demonstration. Our goals are to promote and develop scalable solutions for renewable energy and sustainable development, support renewable energy projects though the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and, as a community, find new ways and build new models to make renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable living an integral part of American life.