RICHMOND — Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced more than $581,607 in matching grant funds, part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program (MMLP), and businesses and organizations in both Gloucester and Williamsburg will benefit.
Funds will be awarded to a total of 108 small businesses, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), downtown business associations and chambers of commerce. This program is designed to leverage local marketing dollars with matching state funds to increase visitation and traveler spending in the off-season, according to the governor’s office.
“Tourism is a powerful economic driver and VTC’s grant programs are an important part of Virginia’s growth trajectory toward becoming an all-season destination,” said Youngkin. “By leveraging public-private partnerships, these programs support Virginia’s creative, outdoor, and small business-based tourism economy and will draw thousands of additional visitors to Virginia.”
The program is 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 off-season.
“Virginia’s tourism industry is an incredible employment on-ramp for high school and college students, part-time workers, and those interested in long-term hospitality careers in management or the C-suite,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “From kitchen line cooks to regional executive hotel managers, these funds support a robust hospitality workforce at all career levels by inducing tourism demand and increasing overnight visitation.”
Grant Awards
Gloucester
- River Mutt, LLC (Virginia Ice Cream Trail) was awarded $2,500 with a $5,000 match
- Camp Cardinal RV Resort was awarded $2,500 with a $5,000
- Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (Hunters Lodging Escape) was awarded $6,500 with a $6,500 match.
- Main Street Preservation Trust was awarded $4,500 with a $4,831 match.
Williamsburg
- Copper Fox Distillery was awarded $2,500 with a $6,654.40 match.
- Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association (WARA) was awarded $2,500 with a $13,349.80 match.
- Rochambeau Roadside Inn was awarded $5,000.00 with a $3,512 match.
- Muscarelle Museum of Art Foundation was awarded $5,000 with a $5,000 match.
