Tourism 8-31-26

The LaSalle County Board's Tourism Committee met on August 31, 2026, to discuss various tourism-related initiatives and budget matters. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of bills totaling $51,450, which covered advertising campaigns and funding requests for Starve Rock Lodge ($30,000) and the Village of North Utica ($20,000). The committee reviewed marketing efforts for Starve Rock Lodge, including digital and print advertising campaigns with Comcast and other media, and discussed a funding request to increase Starve Rock Lodge's marketing budget by an additional $20,000 to $25,000 for expanded campaigns and professional video production. The committee approved increasing Heritage Corridor funding from $20,000 to $25,000 after a roll call vote. They also approved forwarding the tourism budget, including a transfer to the general fund, to the finance department. Other topics included updates on tourism videos, visitor guides, and promotional signage fabrication. No new contracts were awarded during the meeting, but ongoing marketing contracts and budget allocations were a focus.