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Onalaska is gearing up for a summer full of visitors and the Center for Commerce and Tourism has awarded a total of $2,000 in promotional grants to seven area organizations that will be bringing in tourists.

The center has been awarding promotional grants for the last six or seven years. They are paid from funds received from the room taxes.

The 2008 awardees include the following organizations:

The Stars of Tomorrow received $500 for baseball tournaments being held this summer. The tournaments will be held June 27-29, July 11-13 and July 25-27 at area baseball diamonds.

The Little Britches of Wisconsin rodeo received $250 for the rodeo held this past weekend at the Coulee Region Riding Club.

The Sunfish Days fishing derby netted $250 for the event, scheduled for May 24.

The Minds in Motion Bicycle Tour received $250 for the event set for June 14.

The Onalaska Area Jaycees received $250 for their annual haunted house, scheduled to be open Oct. 10.

Cache in La Crosse received $250.

For visitors on two wheels, the tourism center has new maps for cycling the 7 Rivers Region. Pam Culver of Gathering Waters created the maps. The publication is very extensive, yet small enough to fold into a bike bag.

In addition to illustrations, the map includes text descriptions of such things as when to expect a hairpin turn, or a steep hill coming up (or down).

These maps, called “Classic Rides,” are available free at the tourism office, the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Wisconsin Welcome Center and some area retailers.

In addition, visitors to the area will get coupon books when they register at hotels, come to the tourism center or frequent other businesses. The tourism office has printed up about 2,000 coupon books for visitors that provide 10 percent to 25 percent discounts at area restaurants, hair salons, and other businesses, including the Island Girl and the La Crosse Queen.

An early surge in room occupancy is an optimistic sign for a busy summer at the hotels. Room occupancy for March 2008 went up 4.36 percent over March 2007.

Moreover, statistics for the Discover Onalaska Web site indicate a 5 percent increase in unique visitors.

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