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Tour of Missouri Bike Race Receives No State Funding

Erica Martin (2010-05-06)

COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - A last minute decision by the Missouri Division of Tourism could be hitting the brakes on the Tour of Missouri bike race. Although the state legislature budgeted $1 million in funding for the event, the Division of Tourism has indicated there are no plans to appropriate that money to the bike race. The event has received around a million dollars from the state since its inception in 2007. 

Executive Director of the Missouri Bike Federation Brent Hugh says this budget cut could mean the end of the Tour forever.

"All the organization that you have in place to make that event happen, in the case of the Tour of Missouri, comes apart. I'm afraid; this has been the pattern, events like this in other states, if they've been canceled for a year, that's just the end of them." 

Like most state agencies, the Division of Tourism has undergone severe budget cuts this year. According to the AP, Tourism Commission chair Marci Bennett said the $1 million could be better spent on the state's cooperative marketing program, which benefits 40 Missouri communities. © Copyright 2010, KBIA