Green Bay, WIS – Governor Evers announced today that Discover Green Bay has been awarded $2.5 from the Tourism Capital Grant Program, a part of the Badger Bounce Back plan.
The funds from the grant program will be critical in moving forward the much-anticipated visitors center project in Green Bay.
“We’ve been working towards a permanent visitors center here in Green Bay for quite some time now,” said Brad Toll, CEO of Discover Green Bay (formally the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau). “These funds will make it possible for us to move the project forward. Discover Green Bay would like to thank the state of Wisconsin and Governor Evers for recognizing the impact of tourism on our economy and providing funding to ensure we improve our area’s tourism infrastructure.”
Discover Green Bay, the region’s destination marketing organization, operated in a small space in the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena until the building's roof partially collapsed in 2018. The organization initially worked out of a hotel immediately following the collapse. Today, Discover Green Bay operates from an office building near Lambeau Field, which is also home to the temporary visitors center at 789 Armed Forces Drive.
“It's difficult to help people find things when they can't find the visitor information resource,” said Toll. “There has never been a stand-alone visitors center in Green Bay. And for a city of our size and tourism draw, it’s a big disadvantage. We spend a lot of time, effort and dollars on bringing visitors into our community. The visitors center will allow us to engage tourists when they’re in our market, encourage use of local businesses, generate more spending and encourage extended or return stays in Green Bay.”
On average Green Bay attracts more than 6 million visitors each year who provide an estimated economic impact of nearly $1 billion. Visitors to Northeast Wisconsin generate more than $45 million in local tax revenue and nearly $55 million in state tax revenue.
In the coming weeks Discover Green Bay plans to meet with partners and local officials to finalize plans and will release more details at that juncture.