KROS NEWS

(Clinton County) -- A new effort has been started to promote tourism across Clinton County

A Clinton County tourism bureau is getting started. JoElla O’Connell started the idea based on getting a grant from the Clinton County Community Development Association with support from the communities.

O’Connell received support from the Clinton County Board and 13 of the 14 communities in the county contingent on getting the grant. That grant for $20,000 was recently awarded and triggered the $8,000 in allocations from the other government agencies. Clinton County and the city of Clinton had each pledged one-thousand dollars and other communities pledge various other amounts.

O’Connell says the idea is gather information from the county and all of the communities about events and activities and to promote those within the county and outside the county. She said it is to let people know what the other communities are doing and promoting the events through the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association and other outlets.

O’Connell says this effort is not replacing the Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau. She says Clinton ‘does a great job of promoting what they have, but it’s the smaller communities that struggle, “ adding “they don’t have the money or staff to do flyers and magazine articles and advertising.”

Currently O’Connell, the former director of the DeWitt Chamber, is working out of her home and is not affiliated with any other organization at this time. She says she has submitted a budget and plan to the County Board for future funding so the effort is not a one-time shot.

A website for the Clinton County tourism effort is under construction. You can reach her via email at clintoncountytourism@gmail.com.

A couple of Ashford students are also assisting with copy writing and photo’s as part of internship at the Clinton College.

Written 12/5/2012 by Dave Vickers - KROS News

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