By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Members from Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, stopped by Great Bend Tuesday morning to present a check to the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau. The $2,849 grant will be used to purchase large banners that will be placed around town to promote tourism.
Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said the grants are designed to enhance and expand advertising efforts to attract new visitors to Kansas and to their destinations.
"Great Bend has really developed their tourism offerings over the last few years," said Jobe. "I think the fact that they are bringing in so many youth and amateur sports teams, it's really become a mecca for that. I saw this as a great opportunity to get those families to stay longer."
Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Christina Hayes said there will be eight banners, each approximately five feet tall. Banners will be placed at several hotels in town, at the Events Center, Kansas Wetlands Education Center and a mobile banner to display at various events throughout the year.
"We have brochures in all the hotels, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, the Events Center and key points in our community," said Hayes. "We have the brochures which is great, but we wanted something a little extra to capture the attention of those people that might go over to the brochure rack."
Kansas Tourism provided $117,780 for 22 projects across the state with the 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant Awards Program.