FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2002

JENNIFER BOES, 302.672.6811

DOVER - The Delaware Tourism Office (DTO) has awarded more than $245,000 in grant funding to help increase the state's visibility as an overnight tourism destination.

Cheryl Lahman, Director of DTO, said, "Many of our best historical, cultural, and outdoor attractions go unrecognized by visitors because they do not have the funding to promote their offerings. The marketing grants help get the word out about these hidden treasures while increasing the state's overall draw as a tourism destination."

Seven non-profit tourism entities received a total of $200,000 in matching funds for marketing initiatives including vacation package creation, promotional videos, and publications. Individual grant awards ranged from $3,431 to $50,000.

Direct grants totaling $46,716 were granted to 12 tourism attractions and organizations for projects including video production, advertising, promotional photography, and web site creation. Direct grants were available to non-profit tourism entities with a marketing budget of less than $15,000. Individual awards ranged from $1,900 to $5,000.

Julie Miro Wenger, DTO Marketing Director, said, "More than 69 percent of frequent travelers use the Internet to plan their vacations. We were very pleased to help support a number of projects that will help market our state's offerings on-line. These projects include a new web-based Delaware dining guide and a site that will allow travelers to make hotel reservations via the Internet."

Grant recipients were chosen by a panel of representatives from the Governor's Tourism Advisory Board, the House Committee on Tourism, and the Delaware Tourism Office.

Matching Grant Recipients
Delaware State Parks was awarded $31,200 toward the creation of a multi-media package to promote Fort Delaware State Park in New Castle. The project will include a broadcast documentary, orientation film, a television public service announcement, and a web site.

The Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau was awarded $39,392 toward the creation of a brochure and regional advertising to promote a new "Family Weekend" vacation package.

The Kent County Tourism Corporation (KCTC) was awarded $17,356 toward the support of the Kent County Convention Coalition, which promotes Kent County as a destination for small meetings and conventions. KCTC received grant funding in 2001 to launch the Coalition.

Main Street Delaware City, Inc. was awarded $3,431 toward the promotion of its "Diamonds on the Delaware" vacation package which focuses on historic attractions in Delaware City, New Castle, and Wilmington. The grant will help fund print advertising as well as the creation of a brochure. Main Street Delaware City received grant funding in 2001 to market the package to group tours.

Rehoboth Beach Film Society was awarded $45,904 toward a cooperative advertising program to promote the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival to out-of-state audiences. The program received funding through DTO in 2001 and now includes more than 20 tourism-related businesses.

Southern Delaware Tourism (SDT) was awarded $12,717 toward the creation of a regional golf guide. Delaware Seashore Golf Inc. will partner with SDT to create the guide.

Winterthur Museum was awarded $50,000 for the development and marketing of a series of "Delaware's Americana Experiences" vacation packages. Promotion of the packages will coincide with "American Vision: Henry Francis du Pont's Winterthur Museum," an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. on display from May 5 to October 6, 2002.

Direct Grant Recipients
The Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover was awarded $1,900 to create a brochure targeted at the group tour market.

The Delaware Hotel and Lodging Association was awarded $3,000 to create a web site that will enable travelers to make on-line reservations at participating Delaware hotels.

The Delaware Restaurant Association was awarded $3,680.60 for the creation of an on-line Delaware dining guide.

Delaware State Parks was awarded $5,000 for the creation of a brochure to promote Cape Henlopen State Park's "Cape Escapes" program, which educates participants on the coastal environment. This is part of an effort to market this hands-on program to groups outside of Delaware.

The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce was awarded $4,000 to create a poster and brochure promoting the All Harley Drag Racing Association National Event to be hosted by the U.S. 13 Dragway Motorsports Complex this fall.

The Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce was awarded $5,000 to create a photo library of area tourism attractions. The images will be used on brochures, advertisements and web sites to promote Greater Millsboro.

Greenbank Mill in Wilmington was awarded $3,400 for the creation of a brochure to promote the historic site's offerings.

Main Street Delaware City was awarded $5,000 for the creation of a web site that will promote Delaware City attractions, including Fort Delaware State Park and the Three Forts Ferry.

The Milton Development Corporation was awarded $3,000 for the creation of a publication promoting the 13th Annual Delmarva Hot Air Balloon Festival.

The Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation was awarded $2,800 for the creation of a web site promoting Wilmington's historic Quaker Hill district.

Rehoboth Beach Main Street was awarded $5,000 to create a coupon book that will provide visitors with discounts at area businesses. The book will be available in summer 2002.

The Seaford Historical Society was awarded $4,935 for the creation of a brochure highlighting the Governor Ross Mansion and the new Seaford Museum.

The Delaware Tourism Office, 99 Kings Highway in Dover, Del., a division of the Delaware Economic Development Office, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware and works to preserve the state's cultural and natural resources. For more information, call (866) 2-VISIT-DE.