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State grant gives boost to green exposition marketing efforts

ELKHORN — A three-day exposition for green energy, sustainable building and green lifestyles could draw up to 15,000 people to the Walworth County Fairgrounds this summer.

To help promote the EcoFair360, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism awarded organizers a $39,549 Joint Effort Marketing grant.

The event, July 16-19 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, is being put on by the Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center, part of the Green Leaf Inn Development near Williams Bay.

Construction of the inn, located near Wisconsin Highway 50 and 67 in Delavan Township, is planned to begin in the spring.

“This event will have a major economic impact on the Walworth County area,” event coordinator Catherine McQueen was quoted as saying in a news release. “We are planning for 15,000 attendees, and anticipate that 24 percent of them, or 3,600 people, will stay overnight. There will be space for 300 exhibitors and vendors, and we anticipate that with two people per table, 30 percent of the 600 people, or 180, will do multiple overnight stays. This will generate over a million dollars in lodging, retail, food and beverage business.”

“The Joint Effort Marketing grants awarded to this deserving tourism promotion demonstrates the power of travel and its ability to generate significant economic benefits,” Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble said. “Every dollar awarded through the Joint Effort Marketing grant program last year produced a 10-fold return-on-investment while allowing individual communities to make an impact on their local economies and remain viable in a very competitive market.”

EcoFair360 will showcase all things green, from the experienced green builder looking to catch up on the latest technology to the new parent looking to raise a more environmentally aware child, everyone who attends should come prepared to learn, to enjoy, and to be inspired.

Workshops and seminars will cover everything from renewable energy, sustainable living practices, green building and green transportation to gardening and landscaping, health and fitness and food and nutrition.

Sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and attendees can learn more at www.ecofair360.org. The JEM funds will be used for print and online marketing campaigns and public relations outreach.

“EcoFair360 welcomes all who have a concern for the planet and a desire to learn more about living a green lifestyle”, said Fritz Kreiss, one of the event creators and managers. “The additional funding from JEM will allow us access into markets such as the Chicagoland area, Northern Indiana, Milwaukee and Madison with a focused marketing plan. We want our county of Walworth to be known as one of the greenest places in Wisconsin.”