The Highland Tourism Council Doubles Funding for Cost Share Advertising Application for Festivals and Trade Shows

It’s been a long, hot summer… but those leaves will be changing soon enough! And you know what that means, fall festival season! The Highland Tourism Council has announced an expansion of their program to share the costs of businesses and organizations who are attending a festival or trade show and are willing to help advertise promotional materials for Highland County, Virginia.

If a business or organization is willing to showcase brochures, flyers, banners, and an e-newsletter signup sheet provided by the Highland Tourism Council as part of their display at a festival or trade show, then the Council will pay $100.  The festival or trade show must be located outside of Highland County but within a 250-mile radius.

The Highland Tourism Council began the program in 2023 with $500, and the inaugural year was a success with promotion of Highland County at events such as the Virginia State Fair and Giant Flea Market at the State Fair of West Virginia.  For this fiscal year ending on June 30, 2025, the Highland Tourism Council has doubled funding for the program to $1,000 in hopes of reaching ten festivals or trade shows.

“For the second year in a row, the Highland Tourism Council believes it is a mutually beneficial outreach to help offset the costs of those businesses who attend an event while also promoting the overall community,” said Highland Tourism Council Executive Director Chris Swecker.  “It is a win-win situation for all: a business continues to market themselves and their unique products at less of a financial burden, and Highland County gets more exposure to new audiences.”

For full details and to apply, please visit www.highlandcounty.org/tourism-council.  Physical copies of the simple application are available at the Highland County Chamber of Commerce office between 9 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday, located at The Highland Center at 61 Highland Center Drive in Monterey.  Applications will be received and reviewed until $1,000 in funding has been depleted within the current fiscal year ending on June 30, 2025.