Dear CVB Constituents,

Great news! We just received notification that the joint Senate/House Conference Committee has approved a $13 million budget for the Missouri Division of Tourism. That figure is slightly lower than the Division's current budget and the level approved by the House earlier this year but is $3 million MORE than the Senate approved!

The House and Senate are expected to adopt the budget plan today, then send it to the Governor for his signature.

We want to thank each of you for your efforts in sending letters and making phone calls in support of Missouri Division of Tourism funding and overall tourism support. We can't think of better news to receive this week during National Travel & Tourism Week! We'd like to ask for your help one more time in thanking those legislators that worked on our behalf by letting them know how important their support was. We will provide a list of those that supported higher funding for the Division as soon as it is made available.

Again, thank you for your time, attention and dedication to this issue and more importantly, to this industry. We appreciate you!

Sincerely,

Tracy Kimberlin President/CEO Springfield, MO Convention & Visitors Bureau