RICHMOND-On November 14, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that more than $300,000 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 64 small business partnerships as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program.
The intent of this program is to support local marketing dollars with matching state funds to increase tourism during the off-season. According to a release, local partners will commit more than $782,000 in private sector funds to match the funding from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) during this funding cycle, providing more than $1 million in new marketing initiatives focused on small businesses and off-season visitation.
Grants will be awarded to 64 marketing programs, which will impact a total of 189 partners and support more than 400 jobs.
“Tourism marketing programs that drive tourism during the off-season is part of our robust strategy to grow the economy in Virginia,” Youngkin said. “These marketing programs are designed to bring in year-round overnight visitation, which will support small businesses and jobs in localities across Virginia. In 2021, the tourism industry supported over 185,000 jobs in Virginia and travelers spent over $69 million per day in Virginia, and we are on a growth trajectory.”
The VTC Microbusiness Marketing Program was implemented just this year to provide marketing funding to target off-season visitation to tourism-oriented small businesses with less than 20 full-time employees.
The VTC will have additional Marketing Program grant and sponsorship rounds opening throughout 2023. Organizations and businesses that are interested in applying should visit www.vatc.org for more information.