May 23, 2014 at 3:58 p.m.
Tourism secretary presents chamber with $10,000 grant for Boom Lake Log Jam promotion
Tourism secretary presents chamber with $10,000 grant for Boom Lake Log Jam promotion
In her remarks to local officials Klett described the grant as a root canal. The application process that is, not the monetary award.
"It is like a root canal. There is nothing fun about the whole process, but when it's over it's so great," Klett said. "So congratulations because if it was easy, everybody would do it. Because it's our tax dollars, applications really have to be reviewed and scrutinized."
Former chamber director Lara Reed, current chamber board president Brett Aylesworth and chamber board past president Erin Skinner wrote the grant application. Klett said state law requires her department to distribute approximately $1 million in JEM grants every year.
"Unfortunately there are about $10 million worth of projects that want to be funded," she said. "(Receiving this grant) lets you know how great of an application it was. You were up against a lot of competition. What we liked about this application is (the Boom Lake Log Jam) is true to who you are. It's a great event. It fits in with who you are and it also fits in with our statewide brand of fun."
The inaugural Boom Lake Log Jam is scheduled to run June 20 through 22 at Hodag Park. The community event centered around Rhinelander's logging history will include live music, lumberjack shows, food and children's activities. Klett said it doesn't matter how great an event is if people don't know about it. That's why marketing is so crucial and the state's JEM grants aim to help in that area.
"This money goes strictly for marketing. It's all to be used for marketing because at the Department of Tourism, by statute, we exist for marketing," Klett said. "You have this great event, but you want to be able to get the word out."
Kyle Rogers may be reached at [email protected].
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