The Pure Michigan tourism campaign could see some of its funding restored under Governor Whitmer’s proposed budget.
The Governor zeroed out the campaigns funding last year as part of herline item vetoes.
Budget director Chris Kolb says the Governor’s newbudget, released Thursday, includes funding for Pure Michigan.
“This budget includes $15-million for the Pure Michigan Campaign with an invitation to the tourism industry to contribute additional funding for the state wide effort.”
State tourism officials raised concerns last year after the funding for Pure Michigan was cut but the Mackinac Center for Public Policy said the cuts were for the best.
Michael LaFaive is with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which has long disputed that Pure Michigan provides the state a good return on investment.
“My initial response is that this is still bad for Michigan, it’s still a net negative for Michigan, but it is less bad than it could have been.”
The $15-million allocation is still less than the Pure Michigan’s budget last year of $36-million.
The state maintains that the Pure Michigan campaign brings in nine dollars for every dollar spent.