Georgia economic development seeks $3 million to market World Cup and boost statewide tourism

Commissioner Wilson told the subcommittee the governor’s amended budget proposes $3,000,000 for tourism marketing tied to the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta and to broader marketing needs that will persist after the event.

Wilson said the department’s marketing budget has declined over time and the $3 million would fund updated web assets, videos and a trade‑floor activation at the Georgia World Congress Center to introduce visitors to attractions across the state. “When the governor asked us about this, we put together a document... it highlights all the different things that we would do,” Wilson said. He told the committee the updated website is targeted to debut in late March or early April.

The commissioner also noted smaller House additions in the amended budget, including $100,000 for entrepreneurial support and a $250,250 increase for community arts grants; he said the Georgia Council for the Arts and the department expected to deploy arts grants by scoring applications on published criteria and community impact.

On the America 250 anniversary, Wilson said the department is coordinating with the Georgia Humanities Council and the Georgia Historical Society to expand programming statewide. Committee members raised whether $3 million is large enough to make a measurable difference; Wilson said the funding is a one‑time amendment to be spent by the end of the fiscal year and that the department will target World Cup audiences while creating materials that remain useful after July.

What’s next: the subcommittee heard the presentation and asked for follow‑up on reach estimates and specific marketing plans; no appropriation vote was taken during the hearing.