Apr. 10—The Vermilion County Conservation District has received a tourism grant from the state.

The district will use the $50,000 grant to replace the wood and metal dock system with EZ Docks at Lake Vermilion in Danville.

The docks being replaced are at the boat ramp, according to Jamie Pasquale, executive director of the Vermilion County Conservation District.

The total project will cost approximately $120,000 to $130,000 with the VCCD covering the additional cost beyond the $50,000 grant. VCCD staff will provide the labor for the old dock removal and new dock install.

Pasquale said they hope to have the project completed by May 19.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined legislators and leaders in the tourism industry to award $22.5 million in grant funding for 89 projects across Illinois through the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program, according to a press release from the governor's office.

Designed to support local festivals and attractions and drive tourism across the state, Illinois increased the funding available from $15 million to $22.5 million in order to support additional attractions.

The additional $7.5 million was secured during the Illinois General Assembly legislative session in early January 2023 and the program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Illinois continues to prioritize the tourism industry as millions of visitors spend billions of dollars annually across Illinois, boosting economic development and supporting jobs in the industry. In FY23 to date, hotel tax collections have surpassed all of FY22 collections and are on-track to surpass the highest fiscal year collections on record in FY19. Per the latest data available, in 2021 Illinois welcomed more than 97 million visitors who spent more than $32 billion in the state.

The success of Illinois' tourism sector is attributed to commitment to supporting the industry as well as the Illinois Office of Tourism's award-winning 'Middle of Everything' campaign. New data from Longwoods International shows that the campaign had a positive economic impact — leading to an additional 2 million trips which equated to an additional $1 billion spent in Illinois hotels, restaurants, small businesses and attractions. Additionally, every $1 spent on the campaign equated to $91 in visitor spending while generating $10 in state and local tax revenue for every dollar spent.

Grant awards range from $15,000 to $500,000, with an average award of $250,000 for a total of $22.5 million.

"Illinois is the best place in the nation to visit, and now that people are finding that out through our marketing, our tourism economy is booming," said Gov. JB Pritzker. "The Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant program has been a vital part of that success by restoring and enhancing the great events across our state that draw visitors from around the world. When we invest in projects like these — it reverberates beyond just one event or exhibit. It benefits entire communities — from small business owners who get to attract more customers to families with young children who get to enjoy all that Illinois has to offer."

This second round of the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program provides grant funding to localities, organizations, and businesses for a broad range of tourism-related improvements, events and activities. This builds upon $10 million in funding through the first round of the grant program provided to 40 localities across the state. Combined with Illinois' largest-ever tourism campaign, 'Middle of Everything,' Illinois is prioritizing investing in our thriving tourism industry while driving millions of visitors to choose Illinois for their next trip.

"Anyone looking for a great experience can find it in Illinois, from the best state fairs in the country to unique outdoor festivals, attractions and museums," said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton.

"Whether people are traveling to Illinois to visit the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, take a drive down the historic Route 66, or check out the world-renowned architecture in Chicago, Illinois has it all," said DCEO Director Kristin A. Richards. "The State of Illinois is committed to bolstering the tourism sector by supporting the best festivals and attractions in the country that will show visitors from near and far that Illinois is the best place to live, work and do business."

Through the $22.5 million investment, $5 million was reserved for festivals, which serve as economic drivers while bringing communities together, and $17.5 million is supporting a broad range of other tourism-related projects such as attractions, museums, live performance venues, and more. Applications were selected through a competitive process, with each grantee demonstrating how the award would help businesses in the surrounding area, as well as the project's ability to attract visitors for overnight stays. Projects also scored higher based on proximity to commercial corridors and services — including hotels/motels, restaurants, retail and other commercial operations.