District Updates
A message from Ed Dombroskas, Executive Director
Once again we are pleased to report that in the recently concluded session of the Connecticut Legislature, the General Assembly and the Governor reached a comprise budget that provides funding for the Eastern Regional Tourism District/Mystic Country for FY’16 and FY’17. The final budget has a decrease of 12%, or $67,984, for ERTD.
We appreciate that the needs were greater than ever this year and that achieving a final budget was a difficult process. Our special thanks go to the ERTD Board of Directors, the tourism industry constituents, the State Senators and Representatives of Eastern Connecticut as well as the municipal leaders of our region. To each of you who testified, called, wrote, and talked to members of the Legislative and Executive branches of the State on behalf of the District and the work we do – we know it is because of your efforts that the State will continue to invest in our work.
— Ed Dombroskas, Executive Director, Eastern Regional Tourism District
________________________________________
Mystic Country thanks partners for successful FAM
Mystic Country participated in the inaugural group travel show “New England Travel Showcase” held recently in Springfield, MA. Partners with Mystic Country included: Mystic Seaport, Microtel Inn & Suites Uncasville, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Holiday Inn Norwich and Essex Steam Train and Riverboat. After the completion of the tradeshow, 20 travel planners participated in a 2-day Post-NETS familiarization tour of Mystic Country.
Thanks go to the following properties that hosted the FAM group and showcased so many great places to see and stay in eastern CT: Florence Griswold Museum; Whaler’s Inn Mystic; Downtown Mystic; Harbour House at Inn at Mystic; Hilton Mystic; Mystic Seaport; Essex Steam Train and Riverboat; Foxwoods Resort Casino; Microtel Inn & Suites Uncasville; Preston Ridge Vineyard; Roseland Cottage; Taylor Brooke Winery; Putnam Business Assn.; and The Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub. Thanks also go to DATTCO and Joshua’s Limousine for providing transportation. We thank our partners and look forward to welcoming these travel planners and their groups to Mystic Country!
________________________________________
Mystic Country participates in the CT Fall/Winter Getaway Guide – FSI
Thousands of leads are acquired with each issue of the state’s CT Getaway Guide Free Standing Insert (FSI). The ERTD sends copies of the Mystic Country Visitors Guide to each lead. The upcoming Fall/Winter issue will drop in selected Sunday newspapers on September 13, 2015. Circulation will hit 530,000 readers from CT, MA, RI, NY and NJ. The District thanks the following partners for participating in this important publication to lure more visitors to Mystic Country: Inn at Mystic and Harbour House at Inn at Mystic; Downtown Mystic Merchants Assn.; Florence Griswold Museum; and Willimantic Brewing Company.
________________________________________
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
The Last Green Valley
small grants for historic & cultural resources
Deadline August 20, 2015
The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) is pleased to announce a small grant round for projects that preserve, interpret, promote, or market historical and cultural resources. TLGV encourages projects that use digital technology, social media, or creative and innovative approaches to bring stories from The Last Green Valley to life.
Approximately four grants of a maximum of $2,500 each will be awarded. Funds will be dispersed on a reimbursement basis and must be matched 1:1 by cash or in-kind contributions. read more>
________________________________________
REGI Grant
Deadline July 23, 2015
Applications are now being accepted for the Regional Initiative Grant program (REGI). The Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition and Windham Arts are two of the nine Designated Regional Service Organizations (DRSOs) that serve as local field offices for the CT Office of the Arts to constituents and citizens.
REGI is a good fit for applicants primarily interested in small projects that support access to the creative process and/or creative experience, especially those projects that experiment with new ways to apply the arts within the community.
The CT Office of the Arts (COA) developed this project grant in partnership with its DRSOs, which, make up a valuable statewide service network. The application deadline is 11:59pm on or before Thursday, July 23, 2015 . For eligibility, guidelines and application, click here.
________________________________________
Are you aware of the nine designated regional service organizations
In the June issue of Business of Tourism, the REGI grant program was introduced and it was noted that the Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition and Windham Arts are two of the nine Designated Regional Service Organizations (DRSOs). It should be noted that another of the designated organizations, the Shoreline Arts Alliance, services some of the towns in the Eastern Regional Tourism District. Click here for details on this collaborative effort.