The Regional Cultural Alliance is seeking a $600,000 grant from Hamilton County to increase tourism in the Tristate and enhance education in area schools.

        If funded, the group would promote arts and culture by:

        • Coordinating marketing among arts institutions in the region.

        • Presenting a unified voice for cultural tourism to media, governments and the tourism industry.

        • Extending the stays of tourists and attracting new visitors to the region.

        • Building larger audiences for all arts and cultural organizations in the Tristate.

        David Herriman, chairman of the RCA's board of trustees, said cultural tourists stay longer and spend more money than any other tourists.

        He said the county's initial grant of $600,000 would fund the organization for the first year, allowing it to hire an executive director and a staff; launch a Web site; and begin functioning as an arts council.

        “Cincinnati is the only city of its size without an arts council,” Mr. Herriman said. “There is such a wealth of culture in this area and we're not taking advantage of that.”

        An economic impact study by the University of Cincinnati determined arts and cultural organizations generate $101 million in total business sales for the region, supporting more than 3,600 jobs.

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