Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission The Great River

Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission The Great River Road Corridor

History Mississippi River Parkway Commission Created by Congress in 1938 to create a parkway on both sides of the river from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.

History Mississippi River Parkway Commission 10 Individual State Commissions: Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Wisconsin

National MRPC Vision, Mission and Goals Vision/Mission To improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors. Goals • Increase and maintain the investment in the Great River Road and its amenities each year. • Maintain and/or increase the awareness and visitation of the Mississippi River Valley and the Great River Road.

Wisconsin MRPC Vision Statement The Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission exists to preserve, protect, promote and enhance the scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, natural and archeological resources of the Wisconsin Mississippi River Valley; to foster tourism in the Great River Road Corridor; and to develop and enhance the National Scenic Byway known as the Great River Road.

Wisconsin MRPC Wisconsin’s Only Nationally Designated Scenic Byway • 250 miles of the Scenic Byway • 8 Counties • 33 Cities/Villages • 8 River Crossings

Wisconsin MRPC Members Mississippi River Parkway Commission Alan Lorenz - Chair, La Crosse County Senator Kathleen Vineout – 31 st District Senator Sheila Harsdorf – 10 th District Representative Lee Nerison – 96 th District Representative Chris Danou – 91 st District Mark Clements – Vernon County Dennis Donath – Pierce County Jean Galasinski – Trempealeau County Sherry Quamme – Crawford County Bruce Quinton – Pepin County Hans Kostrau – Grant County

Wisconsin MRPC Members Mississippi River Parkway Commission Alan Lorenz - Chair, La Crosse County Senator Kathleen Vineout – 31 st District Senator Sheila Harsdorf – 10 th District Representative Lee Nerison – 96 th District Representative Chris Danou – 91 st District Mark Clements – Vernon County Dennis Donath – Pierce County Jean Galasinski – Trempealeau County Sherry Quamme – Crawford County Bruce Quinton – Pepin County Hans Kostrau – Grant County

Committee Members Promotion/Marketing Committee Dave Smith, Pepin Loretta Richman, Prescott Patrick Reinsma, WI Dept. Tourism Michelle Hoch, La Crosse CVB Jean Lunde, Onalaska Comm. /Tourism Don Fossom, Desoto Patty Wacker, Pr. du Chien Chmb. of Comm. Jean Galasinski, Trempealeau Robert Miller, Alma Sherry Quamme, Ferryville

Committee Members Promotion/Marketing Committee Dave Smith, Pepin Loretta Richman, Prescott Patrick Reinsma, WI Dept. Tourism Michelle Hoch, La Crosse CVB Jean Lunde, Onalaska Comm. /Tourism Don Fossom, Desoto Patty Wacker, Pr. du Chien Chmb. of Comm. Jean Galasinski, Trempealeau Robert Miller, Alma Sherry Quamme, Ferryville

Committee Members Technical Committee Marty Beekman, Tech/Adm. MRPC Sharonne Baylor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Gary Brunner, WDOT Michael Douglas, Villa Louis Historic Site Dave Lambert, Grant County Highway Comm. Peter Fletcher, MRRPC Allen Schroeder, Stonefield Village Director Amy Seeboth, SWRPC Bob Fisher, La Crosse Michael Rewey, Miss. River Trail Comm. Paul Wydeven, WDOT

Committee Members Technical Committee Marty Beekman, Tech/Adm. MRPC Sharonne Baylor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Gary Brunner, WDOT Michael Douglas, Villa Louis Historic Site Dave Lambert, Grant County Highway Comm. Peter Fletcher, MRRPC Allen Schroeder, Stonefield Village Director Amy Seeboth, SWRPC Bob Fisher, La Crosse Michael Rewey, Miss. River Trail Comm. Paul Wydeven, WDOT

MRPC & Partners Regional Marketing

Grant Assistance Grant County Potosi Brewery Museum $847, 418

Grant Assistance Grant County Wildlife Observation Platform $100, 000

Tourism/Economic Impact Marketing Analysis (2004) FINDINGS: • In 2003 recreational users along the Great River Road generated an estimated $337. 5 million in expenditures • $145 million in salaries and business owner incomes • Spending generated an estimated 10, 000 full time job equivalents • An average expenditure per day of $76. 73 for each non resident user and $46. 97 for each resident user

Tourism/Economic Impact Marketing Analysis (2004) FINDINGS (continued): • Over 50% of dollars spent on shopping • Approximately 20% spent on food and beverage • State taxes and fees collected from users equaled $39 million • Local taxes and fees collected from users equaled $16 million • The average total household income for visitors was $64, 800

Tourism/Economic Impact • For every $1 the MRPC receives in local funding can be leveraged and gain $4 in State/Federal matching funds. • Shared marketing opportunities (tourist destinations) • Communication and Cooperation • Resource Preservation/Enhancement

Question #1 What are the benefits of the Wisconsin Great River Road?

Question #2 In your opinion, what should we/WI MRPC be working on?

Question #3 What do you think about the Grant County Great River Road Corridor?

Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission The Great River Road Corridor