EXCERPT: “Ask a traveler where they’d like to visit in Minnesota outside of the big cities. Litchfield, a town of 7,000 west of the Twin Cities, probably isn’t the first place to come to mind. With one-of-a-kind relics and recreational amenities, the community might change that, with a little additional effort. Nearby Willmar and Hutchinson oft overshadow the town of not quite 7,000 people 70 miles west of Minneapolis; but Litchfield is deliberating how to promote itself as its own draw. Unlike its neighbors and other Gopher State tourist towns, such as Ely, Grand Marais or Pipestone, Litchfield hasn’t had the funds to promote itself. That is, until now. That marketing cash infusion becomes available November 1, after a local lodging tax ordinance goes into effect, and those funds can add up. For example, Ely, launch pad to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness, collects over a quarter-million dollars annually whether or not guests notice their room stay has a 3-percent lodging tax built in. Litch, as it is dubbed, is poised to bring in much less, an expected $43,000.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2SHPYUF
