Chicago Southland CVB Awards Grants to Non-Profit Organizations

Lansing, Ill. – The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau recently awarded $8,129 through our local grant program to the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the Illinois Economic Development Association (IEDA) for the promotion of events to be held in the Chicago Southland.

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 17 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger. To be considered for a Tier 1 draft or higher, these young hockey hopefuls must showcase their skills in something called a combine, where general managers scout for new team members. In 2017 the USHL held three combines in Orland Park resulting in an economic impact of over one million dollars. The USHL and Chicago Southland CVB were recognized as a 2017 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, which is the leading publication with the most extensive circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market. The USHL received a $5,000.00 grant for promotion of the Phase I Combine to be held at the Arctic Ice Arena in Orland Park and utilizing multiple hotels throughout the Southland.

The Illinois Economic Development Association received a $3,129.00 grant to promote their 2018 IEDA Conference to be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip. The IEDA Annual Conference is a two-day event with educational information and networking opportunities for individuals and organizations that are engaged in or support the economic development process in the State of Illinois. With the assistance of the local grant, the IEDA would like to grow the attendance of this event through additional promotion. The grant will cover 60% of the cost for a postcard mailer and a series of emails sent to a list of 14,000+ economic development professionals.

The Chicago Southland CVB’s Local Tourism Grant Program is for not-for-profit organizations or municipalities in promoting their meetings, sports events, festivals and attractions targeted to visitors outside the Chicago Southland region. Annually, the Bureau can award up to $51,000 in six grant cycles. The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau’s grant program has been in existence since 1991 and has awarded over one million grant dollars.

The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination management and marketing organization for Chicago’s 62 south and southwest suburbs. The Chicago Southland CVB markets the Chicago Southland region as a destination for leisure, meetings and conventions, group tour and sports events. For more information, go to VisitChicagoSouthland.com

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Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau

Loren Petrakis-Mueller - Communications Manager

2304 173rd Street Lansing, IL 60438

Phone: 708-895-8200 Fax: 708-895-8288 Toll-free: 888-895-8233

Loren@VisitChicagoSouthland.com VisitChicagoSouthland.com