Ski Utah was the largest single recipient of funds - $250,000 - from the tourism board's "Cooperative Marketing Program." That program provides matching funds to cities, counties, travel regions and nonprofit destination-marketing organizations for out-of-state advertising campaigns that show reasonable prospects of pulling tourist dollars into Utah.

"The cooperative marketing program helps us stretch our marketing dollars," said Barbara Riddle, president and CEO of the Davis Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

With the ski industry contributing more than $700 million annually to Utah's economy, campaigns targeting more out-of-state skiers and snowboarders fared well in this fifth distribution of funding by the board in the past three years.

"We are sure this funding will enable us to have a strong impact on the success of the coming ski season," said Ski Utah president Nathan Rafferty. "Our plans greatly complement those of the state and will help to enhance the appeal of Utah as a tourism destination."

The tourism board also provided money to the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau to help promote its Ski Salt Lake program at the four resorts in Little and Big Cottonwood canyons.

Additional money went to Alta Resort Association ($40,000) and the Davis Area Convention & Visitors Bureau ($10,550), while much of the $223,000 allocation to the Park City Chamber-Bureau is ski-oriented.

The state's largesse was not confined to skiing or to the Wasatch Front and Back. Organizations in 21 of the state's 29 counties secured funding. No applications were received from the other eight counties, noted Utah Office of Tourism Managing Director Leigh von der Esch.

"The funding is well-distributed," said Hans Fuegi, chairman of the board's Cooperative Marketing Committee. "Events and marketing efforts by our tourism partners will drive business and increase tourism expenditures."

For instance, four separate applications from the Moab area received a total of $271,000 in state funding, including the smallest single allocation, $3,750 to the Moab Arts Council.

In southwestern Utah, ventures promoting the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City captured almost as much as St. George's Red Rock Golf Trail, the Tuacahn Center for the Arts and Zion National Park's 100th anniversary celebration combined.

Other recipients included the Wayne County Travel Council ($11,000), Wasatch Western Heritage ($12,400), Downtown Ogden Inc. ($13,000) and American West Heritage Center ($9,500) in Cache Valley.

"This program has given us a chance to work with our stakeholders and tourism partners to leverage our advertising program and promote Utah's 'Life Elevated' brand in targeted domestic and international markets," von der Esch said.

mikeg@sltrib.com

Here is the overall list: