SRC Productions, Inc. received a $10,000 grant for its Stuart Beach Music Festival, to be held June 9-11. The grant was part of the more than $2.7 million the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) awarded to 259 local and regional tourism marketing programs across the state to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia’s localities. Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced the awards.
SRC Productions, Inc. partnered with Patrick County Department of Tourism to supply $13,674 in matching funds for the promotion and production of the festival. Some of the top beach music bands on the east coast, which have a passionate following of fans from across multiple states, have been contracted for the event.
More about the upcoming festival can be found at www.beachfestival.com.
The net proceeds from the three-day festival are contributed to Rotary Club of Stuart’s various community projects such as scholarship funding, weekend back-pack food program for a county elementary school, establishment of walking trails, just to name a few.
“The Patrick County Tourism Team and the Tourism Advisory Council are proud to sponsor the 40th Annual Beach Music Festival here in Stuart,” said James Houchins, Patrick County Tourism Coordinator. “The Rotarians have done an exceptional job in giving back to our community. Events such as these help stimulate our economy. In 2020 tourists spent over $4 million in lodging, over $5 million in retail, and almost $2 million in recreation. The Tourism Department will continue to support local organizations as we strive to enhance our community. We look forward to seeing everyone at the festival June 9-11 at Wayside Park.”
“These grant funds provide an important opportunity for communities across the Commonwealth to accelerate recovery efforts and continue with their best-in-class marketing initiatives to attract new travelers,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism. “Increased visitation translates directly into revenue generation, underscoring tourism’s important role in stimulating economic growth and expansion”
The VTC Regional Marketing Program aims to help Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) drive overnight visitation and to supplement funding for economically significant special events and festivals in order to increase overnight visitation. The DMO funding is projected to drive more than 125,000 room nights over the next 18 months.
More information on VTC’s Regional Marketing Program can be found at vatc.org.
In 2017, SRC Productions, Inc., a 501(3)c non-profit corporation, was formed by the Rotary Club of Stuart for the purpose of assuming the production of the Stuart Beach Music Festival a.k.a. “Hot Fun in the Summertime Beach Music Festival.” Net proceeds from the festival are a principal funding source for the many community projects of the Rotary Club of Stuart.