Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell has approved $11 million in matching funds for the state’s 46 Tourism-Promotion Agencies to attract more travelers to the Commonwealth. The base grants will be used by local TPAs to develop promotional materials, advertisements and other marketing activities.
The program makes $2 in state funding available for each $1 raised locally by single-county TPAs, and $2.25 for TPAs crossing county lines. As part of Governor Rendell’s support of regional cooperation, 5% of the $11 million in grants, or $550,000, is earmarked for grants for cooperative marketing projects in which at least two TPAs work together.
Pennsylvania is the fourth most visited state in the country, tied with New York, with about 126 million visitors annually. The total impact of travelers’ spending on Pennsylvania’s economy is about $34 billion a year.
“Tourism is a major industry in Pennsylvania,” Rendell said, in a statement. “It creates jobs, enriches communities and generates revenue for Pennsylvania’s economy. These grants go hand-in-hand with my commitment to maximizing the Commonwealth’s potential as one of the nation’s top tourist attractions.”
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