CAPE GIRARDEAU — Sponsorships for the Tour of Missouri are down even as Gov. Jay Nixon is allowing $1.5 million in state funds to be spent on the September bicycle race.
The number of donors giving $100,000 or more is almost 30 percent lower than expected earlier this year, according to budget documents released by organizers of the cross-state race.
The Southeast Missourian reported that Tour of Missouri executives said some big sponsors are either declining to support this year's race or reducing their commitment.
The largest single Gold sponsor is the Missouri Development Finance Board, a state agency giving $500,000. When that is excluded, anticipated Gold sponsorship revenue is less than half the amount anticipated earlier this year.