Indiana has hired a public relations firm to repair its reputation after controversy engulfed the state last month for a religious freedom bill.
Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a controversial version of a Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law late March — and the criticism piled on soon after that it would allow businesses to deny services to same-sex couples.
Since then, the bill has been changed per request of Pence, but the state is now attempting to fix any damage that may have been done to its economy — specifically, its tourism industry.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. in collaboration with the Indiana Office of Tourism Development announced Monday they would be hiring the Porter Novelli firm to help change the state’s reputation back to one known as a “welcoming place to live, visit and do business.”
“The Indiana Office of Tourism Development is partnering with the IEDC on this initiative to restore Indiana’s image after the recent political controversy surrounding [the Religious Freedom Restoration Act],” Jake Oakman, communications director of the tourism office, wrote in an email.
The IEDC said Monday a letter of engagement signed with the public relations firm will define the scope and budget of the work that needs to be done to fix the state’s image. However, Indiana Senate Appropriations Chairman Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, said his committee added $1 million in tourism funding to the pending two-year state budget specifically for the initiative to do so.
(H/T The Associated Press)
