Cape Cod Chamber Loses Vital Grant Funding

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
The sign at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce welcomes visitors.

HYANNIS – Governor Charlie Baker recently announced his plans to make $98 million in mid-year budget cuts, which will impact many sectors, including tourism.

Following the Governor’s announcement, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce was informed by the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism that its regional marketing grant was cut by 50 percent, effectively wiping out the Chamber’s spring and summer marketing campaign.

“Summer is our most lucrative season on Cape Cod, and to lose significant marketing firepower for our highest season, that’s painful,” said Wendy Northcross, Chief Executive Officer for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Northcross says the Cape Cod visitor market generates more than $1 billion in direct spending, and not being able to run an aggressive marketing campaign will have a negative on the region’s economy.

“If we soften that by inadequate marketing in a highly competitive tourism marketplace, you would see an erosion over time that’s not good for our economy,” Northcross said.

With the new legislative session set to begin in January, the Chamber plans to garner support from the Cape and Islands delegation on Beacon Hill to try and restore some of that lost funding.

“The legislature has a big job ahead of them to see what happens in January,” exclaimed Northcross. “But we will absolutely be working with the Cape and Islands delegation to get them up to speed on what this cut means for our base industry.”

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