Event will be cancelled if funding not released
After a seven-month negotiation with State Tourism, which included a bi-partisan state senate and house approval of $1 million in support for the Tour of Missouri sponsorship, the Tour of Missouri has been cancelled since earmarked funds have not been released by Tourism and the Governor, according to the USA Today.
“This may be a win for the Missouri Tourism Commission and the Governor, but a huge loss for the state of Missouri and its citizens,” said Mike Weiss, chairman of the Tour of Missouri, Inc.
“It has been an insanely complicated battle for something so beneficial, and it’s left all of us absolutely baffled. This event, in three short years, has blossomed into the crown jewel for the state of Missouri with a broadcast to 150-plus countries, visitors from more than 40 states, direct economic impact of more than $80 million dollars over three years, and garnered state legislative support, only to have funding held up by the director of Tourism and the Governor for 2010.
“What has been lost in the mix is whether this money is better spent on things like print ads or a multi-dimensional approach that garners regional and international publicity for our state. The ROI is evident but we haven’t been able to plead our case to the Governor because he won’t take our meetings despite all the public support.”
Weiss and Vice Chairman Brent Hugh said on the race’s website that they are thankful for the enormous public support and the bi-partisan state senate and house leaders that supported the legislation to appropriate $1,000,000 to Tourism earmarked for sponsorship of the event. They have been declined meetings with the Governor regarding the decision.
“Unfortunately, it’s proven once these events are gone, they don’t come back,” Weiss added.