The Superior Express -

Last week this newspaper reported Jewell County was one of the top winners in a state tourism grant program. This week we can report more about the grant and its hoped for impact on Jewell County's economic development.

The Kansas Department of Commerce's website states: "The grants are designed to assist local tourism organizations or attractions in new or first-time innovative marketing initiatives."

Jewell  County was one of only four recipients of the maximum award of $10,000. 

Kyra Lampe, Jewell County Community Development coordinator told this newspaper, "I am so thrilled to receive this award and am excited about how it will help promote everything there is to see and do in Jewell County. I think the Big Kansas Road Trip earlier this year showed people in Jewell County and across the state that a person can have amazing experiences right here in our communities. Rural Kansas has some amazing opportunities for tourism and we can't thank Kansas Tourism and the Department of Commerce enough for recognizing that."

This grant will be paired with a $5,000 award from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation to promote tourism in Jewell County. With the Jewell County Historical Society's Columbian Mammoth exhibit renovation and kiosk project at Lovewell Lake, along with the success of the Big Kansas Road Trip in May, these grant awards come off the heels of one of the most successful years for tourism in Jewell County.

Lampe later added, "Currently, the plan is to put the grant money towards billboards and print materials to advertise Jewell County. I'm excited about how this will  expand our capacity in promoting Jewell County, bring more people here to spend dollars locally, and give our attractions and businesses a boost." 

Jewell County received one of 22 grants. Of these all but four were for lesser amounts.

For more information about the Tourism Marketing Award contact Kyra Lampe at (785) 378-7036 or by email at [email protected].