The DuPage County Board of Commissioners at its July 14 meeting voted in favor of a $1 million economic development initiative–the COVID-19 Tourism Promotion and Business Attraction Relief Fund–awarded to Choose DuPage who will administer the funds.

The $1 million is allocated from the $161 million DuPage County received from the $2.2 trillion federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Act.

A portion of the fund will be dedicated to bringing to market a campaign that highlights DuPage’s safety protocols, and the readiness of DuPage’s hospitality industry to safely welcome guests.

Choose DuPage will be working in partnership with the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) and the DuPage County Health Department–a collaborative approach to ensure consistent and strong messaging at a time when the consumer is searching for transparency and alignment among local leaders, businesses and state government. The remaining portion will be used to market DuPage as a premier global business location.

This money must be used in accordance with CARES act regulations and does not replace operational costs, state grant award or the local match requirement; it merely provides the foundation for consumer confidence. DCVB will continue its work positioning DuPage in target markets based on long-term strategy.