This has become quite a habit of Governor Scott Walker. Two days ago the Governor's spokesman Cullen Werwie posted a press release on the WisBusiness.com website announcing Walker's appearance at the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha Monday evening to present a JEM grant for $20,700 to the club for funding its role in the Taste of Wisconsin event to be held this summer.
The press release is titled "Gov. Walker: Presents Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant for Taste of Wisconsin," an innocuous lede. However, the subtitle notes "$20,700 Grant to Have an Estimated $1.2 Million Economic Impact," which certainly implies that the Governor's grant will result in $1.2 million in income for Kenosha area. That's quite a return on an investment, even for people who still believe in Reaganomics and "trickle down." Werwie and Walker double down on the apparent magic of turning straw into gold with the further clarification:
"The $1.2 million dollars in estimated economic impact for the Kenosha Area makes this grant a good investment for Wisconsin.”So is it possible that a mere $20,700 given by Walker to the Kiwanis Club will result in a magical $1.2 million return?
Not exactly. As it turns out, the Taste of Wisconsin Festival has been going strong for a while now. In 2009, the attendance was 15,000, a number that nearly doubled by last year with a total attendance of 32,000 and generated almost $1 million in economic impact for the Kenosha area. The $1.2 million estimate is simply in line with predictions for higher turnout this year.
But never let it be said that Scott Walker missed out on any opportunity for self-promotion.