Kent County To Get New Tax To Recruit Tourists, Conventions

GRAND RAPIDS – Kent County would get additional tools to promote the west Michigan region and lure national and regional conventions under HB 6606 approved by the House Commerce Committee. The bill permits Kent County, with the support of hotels and motels, to levy a tax of up to 2 percent to support promotional activities.

Supporters said the bill would build on work done the past three years by Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland to promote the region.

The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau also plans to create a sports marketing division aimed at youth sports.

Steve Wilson, president Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the revenue from the new tax will be used to expand the scope of the bureau for more meetings such as the Outdoor Writers Association, a national group which is expected to bring 1,000 members to Grand Rapids in 2009.

And he said the promotional billboards for the region that now dot Michigan freeways are planned for locations in other states.

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