More than $581,607 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 108 small businesses, destination marketing organizations, downtown business associations, and chambers of commerce as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program.
This funding program is designed to leverage local marketing dollars with matching state funds to increase visitation and traveler spending in the offseason.
This funding cycle, local partners will commit more than $700,168 in private-public sector funds to match the Virginia Tourism Corporation funding, providing more than $1.29 million in new marketing activity focused on increasing offseason visitation to Virginia’s small tourism-oriented businesses and events.
The funding will be awarded to 108 marketing programs, ultimately impacting 432 combined partners, and supporting more than 1,050 full-time and part-time jobs.
Several businesses and organizations on the Eastern Shore were awarded funding.
In Accomack County
n The Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce was awarded $3,000 for an initiative called “Explore the Shore.”
n Refuge Motor Inn was awarded $5,000 to promote three-day Chincoteague getaways.
n Onancock Main Street was awarded $10,000 for a marketing iniative called “Cozy up to Onancock.”
n The Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission was awarded $9,764 for “Shorely Wed: Weddings on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.”
In Northampton County
n Peachy Outlook was awarded $2,500 for a Women’s Wellness Weekend.
n Chatham Vineyards was awarded $5,000 for expenses for the Chatham and Eastern Shore Wine and Brine websites.
n Moonrise Jewelery was awarded $5,000 for a “Girls Getaway Guide to Coastal Cape Charles.”
The Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program is designed to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars to stimulate new tourism marketing through partnerships, and to extend the Virginia is for Lovers brand to drive offseason visitation.
Using the hub-and-spoke tourism model to create multi-day itineraries, five Virginia entities partner financially to apply for funding. Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, counties, destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, museums, attractions, cultural events, and other tourism-related businesses.
The matching marketing dollars will be used to encourage visitors to come to Virginia and support tourism-oriented attractions and small businesses during the holiday, late winter, and spring break season.
Of the total Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program grant funding, $168,675 is being awarded to areas of Southwest Virginia that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. This needed marketing funding will help jumpstart the tourism economy and encourage visitors to support affected tourism-oriented businesses.
Virginia Tourism Corportaion will have additional Marketing Program grant and sponsorship rounds opening. For more information organizations and businesses interested in applying can visit vatc.org/grants
