LANSING, Mich. — Sen. John Damoose on Tuesday introduced an amendment to increase funding to the Pure Michigan campaign as the state Senate began voting on the annual budget.
“Pure Michigan represents the single greatest marketing effort of any state in the union. The message perfectly encapsulates what Michigan stands for and what we can offer to those who wish to experience our great state,” said Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “From unmatched outdoor opportunities like camping, skiing, boating, golfing, hiking, fishing and so much more, Michigan is home to incredible natural resources that appeal to all types of travel enthusiasts.”
Launched in the early 2000s, the strategic advertising campaign has been supported in the annual budget and received nationwide attention for its impressive and incredibly successful advertising campaign. The Pure Michigan campaign is credited with attracting millions of out-of-state visitors and offering significant economic boosts to small businesses and local communities across the state.
Damoose said it has been disappointing to see funding for the Pure Michigan campaign waning in recent budgets, and said he would like to see support for the program to return to what it once was.
“Sadly, despite the massive success, Michigan has pulled away from Pure Michigan in recent years — slashing the annual investment over and over again,” Damoose said. “Pure Michigan works in drawing both tourists and new residents. It simply makes no sense to walk away from such success.”
During deliberations on the upcoming fiscal year budget Tuesday afternoon, the senator offered an amendment to increase the $21 million Pure Michigan expenditure in the budget to $50 million, citing its massive success and overall support for the state’s economy. The amendment failed to get approval from the full Senate.
“From the standpoint of tourism, business attraction, the retention of our existing population, and the proven track record in terms of return on investment for Pure Michigan expenditures, I think we should have included this funding measure and further showcased to the world how truly great our state is,” Damoose said. “Unfortunately, the amendment was voted down by the Senate, but that doesn’t mean the fight stops there.”
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