State Funds Awarded to Support Local Museums' Marketing Campaign

Your contribution today guarantees Decorah News is asking the questions tomorrow. Act now. The Iowa Tourism Office has awarded an Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant to support a coordinated digital marketing campaign highlighting small cultural heritage museums in and near Winneshiek County. The Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant program provides funding to tourism partners statewide to promote Iowa destinations, attractions and events to out-of-state audiences. The grant will support the production of professional videos showcasing five museums: the Bily Clocks Museum and Antonín Dvořák Exhibit in Spillville; the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum in Burr Oak; the Porter House Museum in Decorah; the Turkey River Cultural Center in Ridgeway; and the German-American Museum in St. Lucas. The videos will present the museums collectively, positioning Winneshiek County as a destination for immersive historical and cultural experiences. While the videos will be shown locally, they will also be used in a paid advertising campaign targeting select Midwest markets. Stanley "Slim" Maroushek of the Turkey River Cultural Center initiated the grant application and served as the recipient on behalf of the project partners. "Folks don't know what we have here," Maroushek said, referring to the center's collection of more than 6,000 wood carvings and the broader cultural and historical offerings of Northeast Iowa. Additional partners include Winneshiek County Development and Tourism and Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, which will work with the museums to develop the videos, implement the advertising campaign and evaluate the project's impact. "We are excited to support bringing these regional museums together in this unique collaboration," said Stephanie Fromm, executive director of Winneshiek County Development and Tourism. "We know the project will benefit each museum individually while also strengthening tourism in Winneshiek County and Northeast Iowa." For more information, contact Northeast Iowa RC&D at 563-864-7112. Be the first to know! Sign up for the free newsletter and unlock exclusive updates, breaking news, and tips from around the community.