Dominion Valley Park received $5,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Grant Fund program.
The state awarded the $4610 grant for the park’s gospel singings. Stuart Hill Bed and Breakfast partnered with Wolf Creek Farm Bed and Breakfast to supply $390 in matching funds for the Dominion Valley Park Gospel Music project.
Dominion Valley Park officials thanked the Virginia Tourism Corporation for the funds, and noted the park has been established for 32 years, bringing events and entertainment to Patrick County. It is used for two to three music events each year and open to local churches, scout groups, weddings, family reunions, and many other local activities.
“As we celebrate 50 years of Virginia is for Lovers in 2019, it is so encouraging to see such tremendous partnership, initiative, and growth within the tourism industry,” Gov. Ralph Northam said. “Tourism partners from across the Commonwealth have come together to create important new development projects and programs that will attract more travelers and increase visitor spending. These grant funds help destinations improve our communities, create jobs for our citizens, and make Virginia an even more attractive place for visitors and businesses alike.”
The VTC Marketing Leverage Program is designed to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars, stimulating new tourism marketing through partnerships, and extending the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand. A minimum of three Virginia entities must partner financially to apply for a grant. Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, counties, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, other local or regional destination marketing organizations, private businesses, museums, attractions, cultural events, and other tourism-related businesses. In total, VTC awards approximately $1.7 million annually – matched and leveraged on average 3:1 by partner dollars.
In total, VTC awarded more than $965,000 for 44 tourism marketing projects across the state to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia’s localities through tourism.
Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. Last year, visitors to Virginia spent $26 billion, which supported 234,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. In 2019, Virginia is for Lovers celebrates its 50th anniversary. To learn more, visit virginia.org/50YearsOfLove
