The Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau plans to spend about $5.3 million this year promoting the city, according to a presentation made last week to the City Council.
The North American convention of TBEX, a leading international association of travel writers and bloggers, will be held at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington in May, providing an unusual opportunity to raise the city's profile.
About a half-dozen new hotels have opened in Bloomington within the last few years, boosting the city's position as a lodging destination, according to visitors bureau officials.
The visitors bureau's budget comes largely from a 2 percent lodging tax, but the group is required to submit its annual budget and marketing plan to the City Council for review and comment.
JOHN REINAN
HENNEPIN COUNTY
State boosts grant to stem spread of HIV
The Hennepin County Board recently approved an agreement with the state Department of Health that increases a grant for HIV health education and risk reduction services at the county's health clinic, the largest STD/HIV testing and counseling site in Minnesota.
The nearly $227,000 increase in grant money will fund HIV testing, counseling, referrals and testing outreach. The total grant amounts to $1.1 million over five years.
According to the county, about 4,000 of the 7,200 Minnesotans diagnosed with HIV live in Hennepin County.
KELLY SMITH
SHOREWOOD
Council remembers official Tom Geng
City leaders in Shorewood last week honored Tom Geng, the chair of the city's Planning Commission, who died of cancer Jan. 30.
Geng, 57, an attorney, had served on the city's Planning Commission since 2007 and had led it since 2009.
In a resolution last week, the City Council honored and commended Geng for his leadership to the Lake Minnetonka city, taking note of his "gentle, kind and compassionate persona" and calling him a respected and dedicated member of the community.
