CVB asks for $81,000 boost to funding request

~ If approved, the money would come from hotel, motel and restaurant taxes.

At Monday night's Cape Girardeau City Council meeting, the Convention and Visitors Bureau formally requested $236,000 for its next fiscal year budget.

The funding, said CVB chairman Chuck Martin, is needed for advertising, promotion, signage and special projects.

If approved, the money will come from the Collected and Unspent Fund, which has approximately $1 million in its coffers. This fund was created for money collected from the hotel, motel and restaurant taxes and can only be spent on tourism-related issues.

The city council will vote on the funding during its next scheduled meeting on Aug. 7.

The CVB request reflects an increase of about $81,000 from the previous fiscal year. Martin believes past success warrants the increase in funding. He said during the present fiscal year, hotel receipts are up 15.2 percent and restaurant receipts are up 8 percent versus this time last year.

"We bring a number of things into the community that encourage folks to stay longer and that enrich their experience while they're visiting Cape Girardeau," he said.

Martin did acknowledge, though, trouble in attracting hotel guests to Cape Girardeau during weekdays.

"There's no magic formula," he said. "Getting people in during the week is, at best, a challenge, and I see no outright fix and certainly nothing short term."

The added CVB funding will principally go toward a scenic overlook on the old Mississippi River bridge. The CVB is expecting to pay $86,000 in matching funds toward the more than $400,000 project funded largely by the Federal Highway Administration.

Signs along I-55

Money will also go toward renting sign space on Interstate 55 for the signs encouraging visitors to stay the night, eat and enjoy the riverfront in Cape Girardeau. Three signs are located between Festus and Fruitland and three others between Portageville and Scott City. Martin plans to rotate these signs, which depict Mark Twain, Lewis and Clark, and Ulysses S. Grant respectively.

This advertising campaign costs $25,000 annually.

Martin also announced a $38,000 project to enrich the experience of visitors. In this project, the CVB hopes to overhaul the Cape Girardeau visitor's guide and introduce a CD self-guided tour of the city's attractions.

There will also be a $50,000 campaign for still-to-be designed welcoming signage at five entrances to the city.

Finally, Martin allocated $37,000 for the Fort D historic site. This money will be principally divided between a living history event, site enhancements and upkeep, and the purchase of a new replica Civil War-era cannon.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245