Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that Stuart Rotary Club (SRC) Productions received $10,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Program (MLP) for tourism marketing. In total, the VTC awarded more than $3.2 million for 236 local and regional tourism marketing programs across the state to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia’s localities through tourism.
SRC Productions received a $10,000 grant for 2023 Stuart Beach Music Festival. SRC Productions partnered with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Patrick County Tourism, Preppy Pirates and Lawrence Distributing to supply $40,000 in matching funds.
SRC Productions is hosting the 41st Beach Music Festival June 8, 9 and 10, with proceeds from the event invested in the community as support for BSA Troop 65, Developmental Center beautification, Caring Hearts Free Clinic, Food Bank, Day of Community Sharing, Back Pack Program, Rotary Wheel Chair Program, donations to support local students’ literacy through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and to the Stuart Book Club in support of the Stuart Elementary School Book Fair, Christmas Cheer and the Rotary District 7570 Bed Project.
According to James Houchins, director of the county’s Tourism Office, the Stuart Rotary Club “is a vital contributor to our community. Their Beach Music Festival is a major attraction that draws beach music enthusiasts and tourists from across the country.
“Working with them has been a pleasure, and we appreciate the State’s ongoing support for tourism in our county,” Houchins said.
Using the hub and spoke tourism partnership model, Virginia entities partner to apply for funding. 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.
“VTC’s tourism marketing and sponsorship programs are 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 visitation,” said Rita McClenny, VTC president and CEO. More information on VTC’s Marketing Leverage and Regional Marketing Programs can be found at vatc.org/grants.
“VTC’s marketing and sponsorship programs are powerful incentives creating tourism partnerships across Virginia that are a robust part of Virginia’s economic ecosystem,” said Youngkin. “From first-time applicants like Foxfield Races and Paradise Springs Winery to large music festivals in Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia driving inbound overnight visitation, these programs show that tourism and tourism partnerships help Virginia’s vibrant communities grow and thrive.”
“Driving inbound out-of-state overnight visitation is a key economic strategy and the VTC grant and sponsorship programs help create unique partnerships that have tangible economic impacts across Virginia,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “Many of these programs also support regional marketing initiatives designed to encourage Virginians to explore their own state.”
For more information on SRC Productions and the Rotary Club of Stuart, follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuartrotary/
SRC Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit within the Stuart Rotary Club that produces the Beach Music Festival for the benefit of community entities that further support our local area through services such as Scouting, health care, education, literacy, food security and community beautification and the Christmas Cheer program. In addition, projects supported by Rotary District 7570, of which the Stuart Rotary Club is a member, receive donations that provide wheelchairs and beds.
About Virginia Tourism Corporation
Virginia is for Lovers is one of the most iconic and recognizable travel brands in the world. Using that powerful brand equity, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is charged with promoting the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination by showcasing all there is to love in a Virginia vacation. The dollars spent by travelers fuel the economy, provide jobs for Virginians, and improve communities across the state. Simply put, tourism helps make Virginia a great place to live, work, and vacation. Learn more at virginia.org.
