SoBo-Halifax County Tourism gets $10,000 marketing grant
South Boston-Halifax County Department of Tourism has received a $10,000 marketing grant to promote “Halifax County: Your Meeting Destination.”
In March, the tourism department moved into its newly renovated 4,200 square foot Visitor Center, located at the intersection of Highways 58 and 360 near Riverdale.
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Monday the local department of tourism is one of 37 tourism initiatives being awarded more than $543,000 in matching grant funds as part of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Marketing Leverage Grant program.
The grants help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars. The local organizations match the state grant funds by a minimum of 3:1 to create marketing projects such as websites, signage, social media and advertisements.
“Grants such as these enable our localities to more effectively market themselves to potential visitors,” said McDonnell. “When more visitors come to Virginia, the commonwealth and the localities realize increased tax revenue, businesses prosper, and new jobs are created.”
Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2011 tourism generated $20.4 billion in revenue, supported 207,000 jobs and provided $1.32 billion in state and local taxes. Dollars invested in tourism are proven to provide a 5:1 return in tax revenue for Virginia, and the grant awards and matching funds provide a stimulus to localities seeking to increase tourism visitation and revenue.