State of Rhode Island forced to sell ads to print map

See "R.I. map on a tight path," from the Providence Journal. From the article:

But Rhode Island is so strapped for cash these days that it can no longer afford to publish its own state map. Instead, for the first time since the state began publishing the map, at least seven decades ago, tourism officials this year were forced to solicit ads to cover the cost.

“On so many things these days we’re having to find ways for alternative funding,” Mark Brodeur, director of operations for the Tourism Division, said. “We can choose to just dry up and go away, or figure out other ways to get things done.” ...

But at $53,000, the state map still seemed a modest expense in a $7-billion budget. Not, however, to the state Department of Transportation, which has paid for the map for the past five years, after taking over for the Tourism Division. The division — a section of the state Economic Development Corporation with a $1.5-million budget — still designs the map, which last year cost $58,844 to publish.

Maria DoVale, of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, shows off the new map Tuesday at the Rhode Island Convention Center, where 3,000 of the new maps arrived. Providence Journal / Kathy Borchers