GOV. EASLEY AWARDS TOURISM MARKETING GRANTS
Funds will help promote North Carolina’s $15 billion tourism industry

RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today announced that nearly $130,000 in matching grants have been awarded for 29 tourism-based marketing initiatives across the state.  The grants range from $1,800 to $6,750 based on each county’s economic tier ranking and are matched by local funds.

“Tourism is one of North Carolina’s largest industries, generating more than 187,000 jobs, and visitors spent more than $15 billion in the state last year,” Easley said.  “These grants allow communities to promote their areas of the state as travel destinations and help North Carolina maintain its ranking as one of the Top 10 most visited states in the country.”

The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development coordinates the matching funds grants program.  Eligible applicants include destination marketing organizations, local government agencies and non-profit groups with a tourism focus.

Grants awarded for 2007 include:

• Ashe County Christmas Tree Association (Ashe County) - A $3,000 grant will provide additional marketing support for the Choose & Cut Christmas tree season. An Ashe County tree this week was selected to be the official Christmas tree in the White House. It is the 10th time in history that a North Carolina tree has been chosen.
• Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce (Caldwell County) - A $6,750 grant will provide funds to develop a dedicated, interactive tourism web site.
• Central Park NC (Anson, Richmond, Montgomery, Davidson, Stanly, Rowan and Randolph counties) - A $3,500 grant will aid promotional efforts for the XTERRA Uwharrie international triathlon.
• Cleveland County Travel and Tourism (Cleveland County) - A $6,750 grant will fund media placement in targeted print media.
• Downtown Washington on the Waterfront (Beaufort County) - A $3,400 grant will support a promotional piece designed to increase visits to the downtown waterfront.
• East Coast Drag Boat Association (Washington County) - A $5,000 grant will be used to promote the national drag boat racing event held on the Roanoke River.
• The Elizabethan Gardens Inc. (Dare County) - A $3,000 grant will be used for paid media placement to attract new visitors to the gardens.
• Franklin County Tourism Development Authority (Franklin County) - A $1,800 grant will be directed to develop the county’s first tourism web site.
• Lumbee Regional Development Association (Robeson County) - A $2,500 grant will be used for print promotion of the Lumbee Creations craft cooperative. 
• Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce (Mitchell County) - A $6,750 grant will be used to purchase online advertising to promote the chamber’s “Craft Your Adventure” campaign.
• Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (Montgomery County) - A $6,750 grant will be directed to marketing and promoting the county’s bicycle routes.
• New Ventures Business Development, Inc. (Anson County) - A $6,500 grant will support promotional efforts for the regional craft cooperative.
• North Carolina High Country Host - (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga and Wilkes counties) - A $3,000 grant will fund a direct-mail campaign for the spring travel season.
• Old Wilkes Inc. (Wilkes County) - A $3,000 grant will aid marketing efforts to promote the music heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Partnership for the Future of Bryson City/Swain County (Swain County) - A $6,500 grant will support out-of-region media promotion of the local heritage festival.
• Polk County Travel & Tourism (Polk County) – A $3,000 grant will be used for an out-of-region radio promotion campaign, the “First Peak of the Blue Ridge.”
• River City Community Development Corp.  (Pasquotank County) - A $2,200 grant will fund out-of-region print advertising to promote the Juneteenth Festival.
• Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce (Nash County) - A $2,800 grant will support advertising for the Carolina Women’s Billiard Classic tournament.
• Rutherford County (Rutherford County) - A $6,750 grant will be used to develop and print a regional Revolutionary War trails brochure.
• Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce (Lee County) - A $3,000 grant will be used to develop and print the county’s first official visitor guide.
• Scotland County Historic Properties Commission (Scotland County) - A $6,000 grant will aid in media promotion of the annual Storytelling Festival of Carolina. 
• Spruce Pine Main Street (Mitchell County) - A $2,880 grant will be used to promote the Fire on the Mountain heritage festival in downtown Spruce Pine.
• Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts & Educational Center Inc. (Graham County) - A $6,500 grant will be used to develop a media kit and online marketing for the center.
• Tyrrell County Tourism Development Authority (Tyrrell County) - A $6,500 grant will be used to develop a marketing video for trade shows.
• Vance County Tourism Development Authority (Vance County) - A $6,500 grant will fund TV and radio advertising of the county’s East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame event.
• Washington County Historical Society (Washington County) - A $2,700 grant will go to promote “Living History Weekend.”
•  Wilkes Playmakers (Wilkes County) - A $3,000 grant will be used for out-of-region marketing efforts using print, TV and radio to promote their 2008 season.
• Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce (Surry and Yadkin counties) - A $3,000 grant will be used to target new visitor markets for the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival through print media. 
• Yancey County Chamber of Commerce (Yancey County) - A $6,750 grant will support participation with cooperative print advertising opportunities.

For more information about the Division of Tourism matching grant program, contact Teresa Watts at 919-733-7502.  Program information is also available at www.nccommerce.com/tourism.

 

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