A new local event showcasing Kenosha’s rich history and architecture received a $14,500
marketing grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, organizers announced today.
The Keys to Kenosha event will be held at more than 50 sites across the Kenosha area on
Saturday, Nov. 7. Inspired by similar annual events in Milwaukee and Chicago, the Kenosha
event will offer residents and visitors the opportunity to tour a curated collection of
businesses, historic sites, creative spaces, and other hidden gems in the community.
Organizers said the Joint Effort Marketing Grant from the state will support efforts to
market the event on a regional level, showcasing Kenosha as a tourism destination for
visitors from across Wisconsin and beyond.
“As Kenosha continues to grow, one of the biggest areas we see is on the tourism front,”
Mayor David Bogdala said, thanking the state for its support and praising the local
community members who are involved with Keys to Kenosha.
“Kenosha is not just a little
city anymore — it’s a global city with a huge impact around the world, and we’re happy to
share this with them.”
Wisconsin Department of Tourism Development Specialist David Spiegelberg presented
the grant check to Bogdala and event organizers Wednesday outside the historic Gilbert M.
Simmons Memorial Library, one of the stops on the Keys to Kenosha tour.
“It’s a very competitive process,” Spiegelberg said of the JEM grant program, which awards
$1.13 million each year to tourism industry partners throughout the state. “So, I just want
to recognize the Visit Kenosha team for an excellent application. Congratulations on this
award and on your outstanding event.”The City of Kenosha is organizing Keys to Kenosha in partnership with Visit Kenosha,
Kenosha County, and the many private and public-sector venues that have signed up to
participate.
More details about the sites are available on the event’s website,
https://www.keystokenosha.com. Sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7,
offering a mixture of docent-led tours and purely self-guided experiences.
The event is being presented with the support of generous donations from its primary
sponsors: Jockey International, Partners in Design Architects, Snap-on Incorporated, and
Uline.
“Uline is proud to support partnerships between local government, community
organizations and businesses that strengthen the communities where we live and work,”
said Dmitry Dukhan, the company’s Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Construction.
“Keys to Kenosha celebrates the city’s history, architecture and local businesses,
showcasing what makes our community special to residents and visitors alike.”
Visit Kenosha President Dennis DuChene said the event provides another opportunity to
promote the area as a prime destination for tourism.
“Events like Keys to Kenosha have drawn visitors to the Kenosha Area for decades,”
DuChene said. “Over the last 25 years, Kenosha has received more than $1 million in JEM
Grant Funding to help promote events and showcase Kenosha, Wisconsin as a choice
destination for fun.”