January 28, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lynette Maselli
304.357.7809
Lynette.Maselli@wvsenate.gov

TOURISM FUNDING BILL INTRODUCED

CHARLESTON, W.V. Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) introduced
legislation today requiring annual deposits from general revenue be put into the Tourism
Promotion Fund.
Senate Bill 349 (SB349) will provide annual revenue to the Tourism Promotion Fund to ensure
that the Division of Tourism is able to successfully promote West Virginia and participate in the
Tourism Matching Advertising Partnership Program.
Budget cuts have slashed the states funds for tourism marketing, says Kessler. Whitewater
rafting marketing has dropped off, resulting in a fifty percent decrease in revenue. Ive always
said if you have a garden, you have to keep watering it to keep it growing.
SB349 calls for the Governor to annually allocate no less than $5 Million into the Tourism
Promotion Fund from general revenue in the annual budget.
The bill also requires the Division of Tourism to conduct a study on how the funds from the
Tourism Promotion Fund are being spent and submit a report summarizing the study to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance before January 1, 2017.
SB349 is the direct result of the SCORE task force. SCORE, Southern Coalfields Organizing
and Revitalizing the Economy, was created by Senator Kessler last year to identify economic
opportunities that will diversify and strengthen southern West Virginia.
The overriding theme from the SCORE public meetings was that we need to seek additional
funding for the Tourism Promotion Fund, says Senator Art Kirkendoll, who co-chaired the
SCORE task force.
Bill sponsors include Senators John Unger (D-Berkeley), Bob Beach (D-Monongalia), Doug
Facemire (D-Braxton), Art Kirkendoll (D-Logan), Bill Laird (D-Fayette), Ron Miller (D-

Greenbrier), Corey Palumbo (D-Kanawha), Bob Plymale (D-Wayne), Roman Prezioso (DMarion), Mike Romano (D-Harrison), Herb Snyder (D-Jefferson), Ron Stollings (D-Boone), Bob
Williams (D-Taylor), Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell) and Jack Yost (D-Brooke).

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