Wright County approves $12,500 AARP grant application for countywide tourism platform

Wright County supervisors on March 9 authorized the county economic development director to apply for a $12,500 AARP Community Challenge grant to build a countywide tourism communications platform.

Aaron Budway, the county economic development director, told the board the project would compile business listings, attractions and accessibility information into an online platform with a printed companion. "We're asking for $12,500," Budway said, describing pilot tests aimed at getting residents older than 50 to use the digital tools.

Budway said Wright County Economic Development (WCED) would manage the project and assign a marketing specialist, identified in the meeting as Kim, to oversee implementation. Board members asked how the new product would coordinate with the county’s existing printed visitor guide; Kim said the proposed product is similar but more detailed and that staff would reach out to existing publishers to explore collaboration.

Supervisors emphasized elder digital inclusion as a grant requirement and supported creating beta sites across the county to test whether the platform helps residents and visitors find attractions and accessible services. After brief discussion, a supervisor moved and the board approved authorization for staff to submit the AARP application.

The grant is structured as an AARP Community Challenge award; Budway said it is a 100% grant and would not require matching county general fund dollars. The board did not specify additional budgetary commitments during the meeting.

The board’s authorization lets county staff complete the application and return if additional commitments are needed; Budway said staff would proceed with coordination and hoped to receive the award.