Florida's Freshwater Frontier Receives Tourism Grant

SEBRING - VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official source for travel planning, has awarded a Cultural Heritage and Nature Tourism Grant to Florida's Freshwater Frontier for the 2008-09 fiscal year, which began July 1.

The announcement of the grant, in the amount of $5,000, came during the commission's meeting last month in St. Augustine.

"The purpose of these grants is to help non-profit entities and local governments stretch their tourism marketing dollars in an effort to expand cultural heritage and nature tourism activities in Florida," said Kerri Post, vice president of New Product Development for VISIT FLORIDA.

"We were pleased that VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Commission on Tourism

selected us from among a large number of grant applicants, during their most competitive grant cycle to date," said Michelle Phillips, tourism coordinator for Florida's Freshwater Frontier. "These funds will be used for the revision and reprint of our Heritage & Cultural Travel Guide and will help us better position and market Florida's Freshwater Frontier as a desirable destination."

It received a similar grant in July 2007 to print their 2008-2009 Attractions & Events Guides. Those free guides are available to the public at the local Chambers of Commerce, VISIT FLORIDA Official Welcome Centers and various locations throughout South Central Florida.

VISIT FLORIDA, a private/public partnership, is the Florida Commission on Tourism's day-to-day operating corporation.

Florida's Freshwater Frontier Inc. is the official tourism marketing corporation for the South Central Florida region named FHREDI: Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative Inc. Florida's Freshwater Frontier supports regional tourism through advertising, promotions, public relations, new product development and visitor services programs. As a public/private enterprise, Florida's Freshwater Frontier partners with six counties: DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee; and the communities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee and South Bay.

To learn more about Florida's Freshwater Frontier and request a copy of either guide, visit their Web site: www.FloridaFreshwaterFrontier.com