Bath County Receives Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant

Governor Ralph Northam announced that the Bath County Office of Tourism received $25,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Grant Fund program. In total, VTC awarded more than $965,000 for 44 tourism marketing projects across the state to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia’s localities through tourism.

Bath County received the grant for its Made in Bath County Experiences ad campaign. The Bath County Office of Tourism partnered with the Omni Homestead, Garth Newel Music Center and Camp Mont Shenandoah to supply matching funds for the project, which will enhance the county’s new ad campaign by including a video component for broadcast and online advertising.

“We recently launched a great new campaign showcasing ‘Made in Bath County Experiences’ and this grant funding will allow us to get the message out to more potential visitors,” said County Administrator Ashton Harrison.

The VTC Marketing Leverage Program is designed to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars, stimulating new tourism marketing through partnerships, and extending the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand. A minimum of three Virginia entities must partner financially to apply for a grant. 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. In total, VTC awards approximately $1.7 million annually – matched and leveraged on average 3:1 by partner dollars.

“As we celebrate 50 years of Virginia is for Lovers in 2019, it is so encouraging to see such tremendous partnership, initiative, and growth within the tourism industry,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Tourism partners from across the Commonwealth have come together to create important new development projects and programs that will attract more travelers and increase visitor spending. These grant funds help destinations improve our communities, create jobs for our citizens, and make Virginia an even more attractive place for visitors and businesses alike.”

In 2018, tourism in Virginia generated $26 billion in revenue, supported more than 234,000 jobs and provided $1.8 billion in state and local taxes.
The Bath County Office of Tourism, under the supervision of the County Administrator’s office, is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the county. It coordinates advertising,
marketing and social media efforts to increase visitation to all of the county’s lodging, dining, cultural, historic, retail and outdoor recreation amenities.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. Last year, visitors to Virginia spent $26 billion, which supported 234,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. In 2019, Virginia is for Lovers celebrates its 50th anniversary. To learn more, visit virginia.org/50YearsOfLove
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For additional information, contact the County Administrator’s Office at 540-839-7221