OUTDOORS -- Spokane is Near Nature, Near Perfect, and the Evergreen state has some of the most diverse outdoor recreation opportunities in the nation -- the foundation for a vital outdoor tourism industry.

Yet state officials are shuttering the official tourism agency that unifies its marketing message and abandoning all public support for one of its largest industries, according to a Seattle PI online story.

By the end of next week, Washington will be the only state in the nation without any money to spend on self-promotion.

Says the PI:

The transition is the most extreme example of the widely varying strategies among states trying to balance budget cuts with ways to spur economic growth. Some are pouring millions of dollars into fresh marketing, while others like New York and Arizona are slashing their promotional spending to help shore up state budgets.