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State pours $1.2 million more into spring ads [Charleston Daily Mail, W.Va. :: ](Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 18--CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The state plans to more than double the money it spends every spring to promote visiting West Virginia following a "challenging winter," that included one of the worst tap water contaminations in U.S. history. The Department of Commerce is shifting $1.2 million from its marketing budget to the Division of Tourism to enhance the spring advertising purchase "with the governor's blessing," department spokeswoman Chelsea Ruby said. "The tourism industry is critically important to West Virginia, and it has been a challenging winter for us," said Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette in a statement emailed to the Daily Mail. "We want to send the message that West Virginia is the best place in the country to come visit." Burdette announced the decision at a tourism meeting Thursday, Ruby said. On Jan. 9, the state discovered thousands of gallons of chemicals leaking into the Elk River from a faulty storage tank. The chemical eventually contaminated the local water supply, leaving 300,000 West Virginia residents without drinkable tap water. The leak, contamination and subsequent state of emergency that lasted more than 50 days garnered international attention. In letters to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin pointed to the financial impact of the spill, calling it an "unprecedented disaster." "At this time, estimated losses to the economy of the affected counties are estimated at $61,000,000," Tomblin wrote in the March 11 letter. "The total economic impact will likely be greater." Although Tomblin didn't cite a source for the $61 million number, a preliminary study from Marshall University estimated the same dollar amount as the potential financial impact. In a separate announcement, Tomblin encouraged residents to consider "staycations" and other visits to state parks and forests this spring. "Spring brings warmer temperatures, fragrant blossoms, the melody of chirping birds and new opportunities for adventure," Tomblin wrote in his regular column. "It is also the time when many of us begin planning our spring and summer getaways -- a memorable family vacation, a relaxing getaway for two or even a weekend excursion." With restaurants, hotels and other businesses closed during the early stages of the leak and contamination, local officials have also bemoaned the potential negative future economic effect of the spill. Calling the spill the worst event he's experienced while in office, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones recently said the city needs to "prove that our brand is OK." "It's going to affect us financially, it's going to be devastating and it's going to be with us for a long time. I couldn't sleep at night if I caused this type of damage to the community," Jones said in February when announcing in-home testing of water pipes. Typically the state spends about $1 million in the spring to promote tourism, Ruby said. The ads will appear in a variety of mediums, through broadcast or print outlets, she said. Ruby said the state is placing the ads in the next week or so, and people should start seeing them in the next few weeks. Contact writer Dave Boucher at 304-348-4843 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.Twitter.com/Dave_Boucher1. ___ (c)2014 Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, W.Va.) Visit the Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, W.Va.) at www.dailymail.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |