Trail Ride Sends Message: Fund Tourism Promotion

2010-01-07 / Front Page


Michigan legislators hit the snowmobile trails to raise awareness of snowmobiling and its economic impact on local communities Sunday, January 3, to Monday, January 4. In Mackinaw City, the group rests before returning home Monday. Representative Gary McDowell said he wanted the trip from Gaylord to upper Michigan to highlight the need to fund winter tourism promotion in the state. Tourism funding was reduced from $30 million to roughly $5 million owning to state budget problems, and Mr. McDowell hopes legislators will support the Michigan Promotion Fund plan, which would use revenues from sales and use taxes raised from tourism-related activities to fund ad campaigns like Pure Michigan. The plan was passed in the House and is currently in the Senate. Members of the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA), and the president of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) accompanied the lawmakers. Pictured (from left) are Keith Gorby of Greenville, Representative Joel Sheltrown, President of the MSA Jim Dickie, Representative Gary McDowell, Representative Mike Huckleberry, President of the ISMA Ed Klim, Representative Andrew Kandrevas, and Vice President of the MSA Bruce Woods. Michigan legislators hit the snowmobile trails to raise awareness of snowmobiling and its economic impact on local communities Sunday, January 3, to Monday, January 4. In Mackinaw City, the group rests before returning home Monday. Representative Gary McDowell said he wanted the trip from Gaylord to upper Michigan to highlight the need to fund winter tourism promotion in the state. Tourism funding was reduced from $30 million to roughly $5 million owning to state budget problems, and Mr. McDowell hopes legislators will support the Michigan Promotion Fund plan, which would use revenues from sales and use taxes raised from tourism-related activities to fund ad campaigns like Pure Michigan. The plan was passed in the House and is currently in the Senate. Members of the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA), and the president of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) accompanied the lawmakers. Pictured (from left) are Keith Gorby of Greenville, Representative Joel Sheltrown, President of the MSA Jim Dickie, Representative Gary McDowell, Representative Mike Huckleberry, President of the ISMA Ed Klim, Representative Andrew Kandrevas, and Vice President of the MSA Bruce Woods.

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