Kids & Family

Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau Reps Meet with State Officials

CVB staffers met with legislators at first I&M Canal Day in Springfield.

Representatives from the Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) were among the nearly 100 people from 26 organizations that took part in the first-ever "Illinois and Michigan Canal Day" in Springfield. The all-day event was held on Tuesday, February 21.

Jan Kostner, director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, and State Rep. Frank Mautino, D-76th, addressed the group during the formal program in the rotunda of the state capitol.

Organizations from throughout the National Heritage Corridor set up display tables to promote awareness of its rich diversity of educational and recreational activities. Attendees also visited the Old State Capitol and a special Civil War living history presentation entitled “Meet a Boy in Blue.”

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Bureau staff members Mary Beth DeGrush, Justin Hardee and Sandy Burns, along with board members Jackie Traynere and Julie Johnson, took advantage of this opportunity to meet with elected officials and members of state agencies.

They spoke with Kostner and State Reps. Mautino; Tom Cross, R-84th; and Pam Roth, R-75th, regarding the importance of tourism as an economic developer, as well as I&M Canal issues and maintenance.

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They also discussed the potential reopening of the portion of the canal from Ottawa to Utica which has been closed for nearly two years due to alleged stray bullets coming from a nearby shooting range. No new decision has been made at this time. 

"It was such an inspiration to see all the different organizations that have an interest in the I&M Canal come together for a common purpose...to save, restore and promote," said DeGrush, the CVB's vice president.

Last week's event  by representatives from the  and the .

CVB officials said the Canal Day meetings led to a new 10-year plan for the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor, and there are plans to make this an annual event. To learn more about tourism-related activities along the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor, visit www.heritagecorridorcvb.com or call 800-926-2262.


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