Gov. Snyder To Approve Pure Michigan Funding

LANSING (WWJ) - Governor Rick Snyder is expected to sign a bill Thursday that will pump $10 million into the popular advertising campaign, Pure Michigan.

That figure is double the previous amount and raises the overall Pure Michigan funding for this budget year to $25 million, as Snyder requested.

The money is being transferred from the state's 21st Century Jobs Fund.  

Pure Michigan campaigns promote the state's beaches, golf courses and other destinations to potential tourists.

The extra $10 million will pay for regional campaigns targeting cities such as Chicago, Columbus, Cleveland and Indianapolis.

According to independent research released this year,  the Pure Michigan national ad campaign successfully attracts tourists from other states, protecting thousands of Michigan tourism jobs.

A Longwoods International report released last year said the spring and summer 2009 Pure Michigan national campaign motivated 680,000 new trips to Michigan from outside the Great Lakes region.

Those visitors spent $250 million at Michigan businesses in summer 2009 and paid $17.5 million in state taxes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.