Indianapolis, IN – The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA) has received a generous boost in the form of a $5.4 million grant from a local foundation to help market the city as a convention and vacation destination.
The additional funding will be provided over a three-year period by the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, Inc. Dean White is the founder of White Lodging, the Indiana developer of Marriott Place, a 1,625-room hotel complex in Indianapolis that will be opening in phases beginning next month.
The grant comes at a time when many destination marketing organizations have been faced with budget cuts. The announcement was made just days after Mayor Greg Ballard said in his State of the City address that Indianapolis would chip in an additional $1.5 million to the ICVA.
ICVA President and CEO Don Welsh said the one-time grant came at a pivotal time for the ICVA. “These funds are absolutely critical as we expand the Indiana Convention Center,” he said. “We will do our utmost to deliver significant return on this investment by aggressively marketing not only our convention and hotel package, but our arts and cultural attractions, sports, events and other amenities.”
Reach Don Welsh at (317) 639-4282 or dwelsh@visitindy.com
