RICHMOND – Two Williamsburg sporting events were among the recipients of The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Sports Marketing Incentive Program and ARPA Meeting & Convention Incentive Program grants it was announced Friday.
VTC has awarded $1.45 million to 83 events through the two programs, both of which are to be used for event incentives specifically targeted at attracting new meetings and competitive sporting events to spur economic activity and travel across the Commonwealth, according to a press release.
The funds are a part of a $50 million ARPA appropriation during the August 2021 Special General Assembly Session to assist Virginia’s tourism industry to overcome the impact of COVID-19.
“Sports events and meetings are vital to the tourism industry,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “This appropriation is an opportunity to assist statewide organizations with its continued recovery efforts and help drive increased visitation and revenue generation.”
The events will be awarded funds for expenses paid by the destination, government agency or venue to support the hosted meeting or event. The War at Williamsburg – Firecracker Inaugural Baseball Tournament & Collegiate Showcase and NSA Girls Class “B” & “C” East World Series were the local recipients through the Williamsburg Tourism Council.
The funds are targeted for expenses ranging from site/venue rental usage fees to equipment rental and shuttling. The estimated direct economic impact of the awarded events is more than $53 million, according to VTC.
A list of the awarded recipients can be found here. For more information on the ARPA Sports Marketing and Meeting & Convention Incentive Programs, visit vatc.org.
