Norwich — Noting the importance of tourism regionally and statewide, the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments is urging the state to restore funds to the Eastern Regional Tourism District.

The regional council voted Wednesday to send a letter to the state's executive branch requesting the restoration of enough funding so the regional tourism district can continue to run. 

Ed Dombroskas, the tourism district's executive director, said he learned at 5 p.m. on June 30 that funding for the state's regional tourism districts was being eliminated for the 2016-17 Fiscal Year beginning July 1.

The unexpected cut required an "immediate pivot," he said Wednesday at the regional council's meeting. 

In the past 2 ½ weeks, the tourism district has been looking at how to disengage from contracts and pare down staffing, Dombroskas said.

The district, which is running on residual funds, began furloughs and already has laid off one part-time staff member.

Dombroskas asked for the council's support in voicing the importance of tourism to Eastern Connecticut.

"It's identified as probably the second largest industry in our region," he told the council. "It accounts for billions of dollars in economic impact on an annual basis, and we know it will have an effect on the smaller businesses."

The small businesses that represent tourism in Eastern Connecticut rely on the regional tourism district, Dombroskas said.

He said the loss of state funding also means Connecticut is one of the only states in the country without a regional tourism component.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, who is also Sprague's first selectman, called tourism a "regional asset."

She said the region's legislators have banded together to ask the state Office of Policy and Management to restore some funds for the tourism district.

Stonington First Selectman Rob Simmons recommended the towns individually contact the state, in addition to the joint letter.

"This is not just a southeastern Connecticut issue," Simmons said. "The return on investment goes right back into the state."

He gave the example that visitors to Stonington travel through other towns on their way, thus benefitting those communities and the region.

Later in the meeting, Simmons pointed out that terminating contracts due to a lack of funding would send a poor message about doing business with Connecticut in the future.

Local officials also specified that the letter will not request a restoration of all the funding for the tourism district, due to the state's fiscal challenges.

But it will request enough funds for the district to continue to operate.

In a phone interview, Dombroskas said he estimates the tourism district would need about $300,000 to make it through Fiscal Year 2017, which amounts to roughly a 40 percent cut.

He said a 40 percent decrease would be in line with other budget reductions made by the state.

That amount of funding would allow the tourism district to run, but it still would need to pare down services and cut back staffing levels.

During his remarks to the council, Dombroskas noted the significance of speaking to the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.

He said more than 35 years ago, the council "set up the Eastern Regional Tourism District and established the rules and way that we operate today."

k.drelich@theday.com