THE MOHAWK TRAIL ASSOCIATION NEEDS YOU

Help us secure state funding for Fiscal Year 2011!

We are requesting your help in sending a letter to the Massachusetts State Legislature in support of line item #7007-1000 to request a $6 million appropriation for Fiscal Year 2011 for the Regional Tourism Councils. Last year, the visitor industry generated $250.7 million in public revenue through the room tax alone. As you know, the Tourism Industry continues to support over 128,000 jobs in Massachusetts from the food servers, tour guides, hotel employees, taxi drivers and so many, many more that are impacted by tourists who visit our state of Massachusetts, and it's extremely important that we secure funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

We would appreciate you helping us out by sending letters to the MA representatives and senators on your business' letterhead, as well as sending us a copy of the letter(s) you send for our records and also to use on our State House Day.  Please mail by April 9th (please note this is by the us postal mail).

Below is a copy of the draft letter and the list of MA Legislature for our region.

Thank you so much for working with us for this extremely important initiative.  I am sure that you know how important it is to get our funding back and continue our hard work to bring tourism to The Mohawk Region.

Thank you for all of your help and continued support!  If you have any questions, please call me 413-652-2426 Cell.

 Peter Tomyl

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Please address the letters to:

The Honorable Stanley C. Rosenberg   (Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg)

State House – Room 320
Boston, MA 02133

and

The Honorable Denis E. Guyer    (Representative Denis E. Guyer)
State House – Room  73 F
Boston, MA.02133

The Honorable ____________
State House –Room ____
Boston, MA 02133


Dear ________________

I am writing to respectfully request a $6 million appropriation for Fiscal Year 2011 for the Regional Tourism Councils, line item #7007-1000.  The Mohawk Trail Association is our regional tourism council and is a valuable asset for my business. 

In tough times, every job counts, and every dollar of state revenue is essential.  The state budget must be carefully weighed to secure the most benefit for the entire Commonwealth.  Investment in tourism through the Regional Tourism Councils and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism creates jobs, strengthens our communities and returns revenue to the state.  Consider the facts:

•    Last year alone, the visitor industry generated $250.7 million in public revenue through rooms’ tax alone.
•    Tourism also generates increased revenue from sales tax, gas tax and meals tax.
•    The visitor industry supports 128,800 jobs in every corner of the state.

We need every resource available to restore our economy.  We rely heavily on the Mohawk Trail Association to market our area as a destination for tourism, group tours, outdoor recreation and leisure travel.

For example, the Mohawk Trail Association advertises in both national and international markets.  The Mohawk Trail Association provides the essential marketing that brings visitors to the region.  They produce the visitor guides, an effective website, the advertising and the one-to-one marketing necessary to promote our region.

The Mohawk Trail Association is a catalyst for collaborative marketing by partnering with businesses across Western Massachusetts.  They create specialized itineraries to stimulate interest in all the region has to offer. 

We take pride in the Mohawk Trail Region and are proud to call it home, but, without the Mohawk Trail Association, visitors would not be able to find us.  Reducing state funding to the Mohawk Trail Association hurts our economic base.

During this recession, we must focus state investment in programs that increase revenue and support jobs.  Funding for our Regional Tourism Councils provides one of the best returns on investment in state government.  The Mohawk Trail Association supports business all across the region and provides marketing and services that cannot be found elsewhere.  We in the business community contribute to the Mohawk Trail Association to match state dollars.  But, we cannot do it alone.  We need state support to keep our share of the visitor market.

The visitor industry generates jobs all over the Commonwealth, but I ask you to support funding for the Regional Tourism Councils because it generates jobs in my hometown.  Support our communities by growing our visitor industry.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,