Rockford, IL (Top40 Charts/ Burpee Museum of Natural History) The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism has awarded the Burpee Museum of
Natural History and its newest exhibit, Rick's Picks: Rick Nielsen's Lifelong Affair with Guitar's and Music, a Tourism Attraction Development Grant totaling $250,000.
Alan Brown, Executive
Director of the Burpee Museum of
Natural History commented, "Having the support of the Governor and the outstanding staff at Illinois Office of Tourism has provided the necessary funding to create a world class exhibit of rock and roll history at Burpee Museum of
Natural History from the work of Rick Neilsen. People from all over the world will be coming to Rockford to view this amazing collection of guitars and memorabilia and it would not have been possible without the support of Governor Quinn and Illinois Office of Tourism."
Tourism Attraction Development Grants are awarded to counties, municipalities, non-profit organizations, local promotions groups, and for profit businesses with the singular goal of developing projects that increase the economic impact of tourism throughout Illinois. Grantees provide matching funds for their projects.
John Groh, CEO of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau expressed his excitement at the grant award, "We're tremendously grateful for this level of support--not just for the exhibit itself, but what it represents for Rockford as a destination. Rick Nielsen is a one-of-a-kind Rockford resident and we're so grateful and thankful that he chose to launch this one-of-a-kind exhibit in his hometown. It's an amazing project and will be a major boost for Rockford and our region's tourism market."
The exhibit opens in Rockford, Illinois with preview tours for sponsors, special guests and the media on August 10th, 2012, and to the general public on Saturday, August 11th, 2012 at Burpee Museum of
Natural History, 737 North Main Street Rockford, IL 61103. A celebratory concert, Rick Nielsen &
Friends is being planned for January, 2013. Find more information on Facebook. Or follow emerging news on Twitter.
Post-Rockford, officials intend to send the exhibit on an worldwide tour. Corporations and Organizations interested in national and international sponsorship of the exhibit are invited to visit the Rick's Picks Sponsorship page, or to contact Rick's Picks
Director of
National Sponsorship,
Jennie Walker at jwalker(at)rickspickslive(dot)com for more information. Many levels of collaboration are available.
