Forward Janesville - TheReport - Third Quarter 2019

0 100 200 300 400 500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 0 30 60 90 120 150 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 CHRISTINE REBOUT is Executive Director of the Janesville Convention and Visitors Bureau. She promotes Janesville as a tourism destination for leisure, group, and business travelers, working with her staff of six and 25 volunteers. JOHN WESTPHAL is Chief Executive Officer of Westphal & Company, Inc., a full-service electrical construction firm; a long-time cyclist; and organizer of Janesville’s Gran Prix Bike Race. PAUL MURPHY is an independent freight agent with Ikon Transportation; President of the Janesville Velo Club; and organizer of Janesville’s Gran Prix Bike Race. Wesphal and Murphy began the push to bring the Gran Prix to Janesville in 2016. “Organizers hope for large primes because it makes the races more competitive and more enjoyable for spectators, and the tour required each event to raise a minimum of $2,000. Big prime money draws more racers, which, in turn, bring more spectators. Raising $15,000 in primes the first year and $25,000 in primes the second puts Janesville’s race on par with some of the largest in the country ,” John Westphal said. “We took our passion for bicycling, our passion for revitalizing downtown, our passion for our hometown, and we put it all in one package,” said Paul Murphy, about first bringing the Gran Prix to Janesville • March Lapidary and Geological Show 2000 attendees • May Rock Soccer Clash 3,000 people • Rock Aqua Jays Light Up the Rock River night jump and swivel tournament 1000 people per show • Freedom Fest free concert, fireworks and health clinic 35,000 people • Ongoing weekend baseball tournaments at Janesville Sports Complex Averaging 1,000 children per tournament • Rock County 4-H Fair 65,000 visitors • Badger Knife Show 2,000 attendees 2019 ENHANCEMENTS: • Raised 33% more funding. Having set a precedent with a successful first event inspired more support. • Added audio and additional jumbotron screens throughout the course, to ensure all could hear the announcer and understand the action. • Utilized a number of golf carts staffed by members of Janesville Morning Rotary for utility and passenger transport. • Added more food trucks and a YMCA-organized children’s area. • FJI Goodwill Ambassadors and members of Downtown Janesville, Inc. served as race day ambassadors. • Gave away 150 t-shirts and 1,000 cowbells, to cheer on riders. • First time racers in the series raced on a “dog- bone” style course as well as the first time they received a Prime by random race number selection before the race started (the Jim Ryan Memorial Prime). Janesville Town Square Gran Prix bicycle race, a leg of the 11-day Tour of America's Dairyland, was held June 26, 2019—the second year running for the event in Janesville. The course ran through downtown Janesville, beginning and ending at the intersection of Main and Milwaukee streets. Gran Prix by the NUMBERS OTHER KEY 2019 EVENTS “Janesville has the most informed volunteers I’ve experienced. You ask them a question and they know the answer. They even reminded me when my race was going to be starting.” –2019 Janesville Town Square Gran Prix cyclist 1. Cash rewards for winning given laps: $5,000 each for women’s professional and men’s professional groups $5,000 for amateurs 2. Cash rewards for winning given laps - was a single-day record for USA Cycling: $7,000 each for women’s professional and men’s professional groups and $11,000 for amateurs 2018 $95,000-100,000 APPROXIMATE ECONOMIC IMPACT 2019 $250,000 APPROXIMATE ECONOMIC IMPACT 3 8 S T A T E S A N D 1 0 C O U N T R I E S 4 0 S T A T E S A N D 1 2 C O U N T R I E S 489 Cyclists 492 Cyclists 2,000 Specators 4,000 Specators 125 Volunteers 142 Volunteers $15,000 In Primes 1 $25,000 In Primes 2