Grants offered to get tourism efforts moving

Tourism marketing groups can pursue grants to help prepare for the reopening of attractions hurt by the COVID-19 emergency.

Gov. Ralph Northam last week announced the WanderLOVE Recovery Grant Program, which is administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

It will provide up to 50 grants to destination marketing organizations of up to $10,000 each.

WanderLOVE, a new integrated summer campaign created by VTC, “will provide travel inspiration for road trips, outdoor recreation, hidden gems, small towns, and its signature LOVEworks program,” according to a release. “Grant recipients will be equipped with creative assets and a toolkit to implement in their own marketing.”

The application process began June 18 and will close July 2. Awardees will be announced by July 15, 2020.

Grants are open to any of Virginia’s 114 recognized DMOs. Funds must be used for recovery marketing and may be used for participating in the VTC co-ops, local advertising, out-of-state marketing, and other allowable items.

To apply, go to https://www.vatc.org/wanderlove-grant/.

While the WanderLOVE Recovery Grant Program is only open to eligible DMO partners, VTC’s traditional Marketing Leverage Program grants will open to all Virginia tourism industry partners in August 2020. More information on that program is available at https://vatc.org/grants/leverageprogram/.