Tourism programs in Martinsville and Patrick County are among 104 recipients statewide of more than $625,000 in matching grants announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to strengthen off-peak travel and promote Virginia as a year-round destination.
The Patrick County Tourism Office received a $5,000 grant through the Vacation Starts with Virginia program for its “Patrick County Vacation Starts with VA Influencer” campaign.
In Martinsville, the Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation was awarded $10,000 through the VA250 Marketing Leverage Program to support “Celebrating 250 Years of Natural History in Virginia.”
The West Piedmont Planning District Commission, on behalf of the Mountain Spirit Trail Committee, received $2,720 through the Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program for Phase 3 of the “Mountain Spirit: Virginia’s Moonshine Heritage Trail” project.
Statewide, the $627,877 in awards are funded through three Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) programs: the Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program, the VA250 Tourism Marketing Program, and the Vacation Starts with VA DMO MMLP Co-op Program. Local partners matched the VTC grants with more than $729,000 in additional funding, generating over $1.3 million in new marketing initiatives.
“Virginia’s recent record-breaking tourism numbers reflect the strength and potential of this industry to drive economic growth across the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said. “These grants will expand that impact by helping destinations and small businesses market themselves more effectively, thrive during the shoulder season, and welcome travelers year-round.”
Each program is designed to help destinations and small tourism-related businesses amplify marketing efforts during the slower travel months, foster partnerships, and encourage longer visitor stays that boost local economies.
For more information about VTC’s grant programs, visit vatc.org/grants.
