Commission helps fund brochures

By PAMELA BRUST, pbrust@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG — Wood County commissioners agreed to help fund printing of more visitor brochures for the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau after demand exceeded expectations.

Dave Ashley made the request on behalf of Steve Nicely, CVB director, and the board.

“We had printed up 50,000 of the guides the last two or three years, an increase from the 30,000 a few years ago. We printed 60,000 this year. We ran out due to a direct mail opportunity where we had 20,000 potential visitors, and we got so many hits back. We need to print up another 20,000 guides to get us through the rest of the year,” Ashley said. Total cost for the additional printing will be $19,868.

“The West Virginia Division of Tourism has approved a revision to our advertising grant so we can be reimbursed for part of it, but a local share of $9,934 is still needed. We are requesting the commission contribute $5,000 toward this local share and the CVB will adjust its budget to cover the remaining difference in the cost,” Ashley said.

“Running out of brochures is a good thing. It’s one of the things you want to happen. I think with the increase in the hotel/motel tax coming in, the bureau had pledged to increase advertising and get that up to a higher level for the attractions and that has apparently been done,” Commissioner Rick Modesitt said.

The commissioners voted to appropriate $5,000 to the CVB from the county’s Special Innovative Grant budget. Commissioners earlier set aside funding from the county hotel/motel tax into the special account. Entities wishing to apply for the grant funds fill out an application for the funding. In establishing fund, county officials said they wanted to help finance projects or events that will attract more overnight visitors into the area. The commissioners earlier approved a doubling of the hotel/motel tax, and approximately 7-8 percent of the additional revenue is placed in the innovative grants account.