Wayne Theatre Alliance to receive tourism marketing grant

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has awarded the Wayne Theatre Alliance a $5000 grant  through the Virginia Tourism Corporation Fall 2011 Marketing Leverage Program. WTA was one of 35 local tourism entries from throughout Virginia who were awarded grants.

The grants from the Virginia Tourism Corporation are designed to assist local and regional tourism entities to attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars.  The successful grant application was a partnership between the Wayne Theatre Alliance, the Waynesboro Office of Tourism and Stone Soup Books and Café to promote tourism in Waynesboro and WTA’s Gateway Theatre.  The local partners provided a $5000 match for the grant, making a total of $10,000 available for the project.

VTC’s Marketing Leverage Program stimulates new tourism marketing through partnerships and extends the Virginia is for Lovers brand.  The program’s objective is to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars.  A minimum of three entities must partner financially to apply for a grant.  Partners may consist of Virginia towns, cities, counties, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, other local or regional destination marketing organizations, private businesses, museums, attractions, cultural events, and other not-for-profit entities.  In total, VTC awards approximately $1 million annually – matched and leveraged on average three to one by partner dollars – to more than 80 communities across the Commonwealth.

“We know that love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation and this Marketing Leverage Program is one of the most effective ways of spreading that message,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “VTC truly appreciates the support of Governor McDonnell and the General Assembly in providing funds that can be applied creatively and effectively with motivated partners throughout Virginia all working together for a common cause.”

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2010, tourism in Virginia generated $18.9 billion in revenue, provided $1.3 billion in state and local taxes and supported more than 200,000 jobs. Dollars invested in tourism are proven to provide a 5:1 return in tax revenue in Virginia, and the grant awards and matching funds provide a stimulus to localities seeking to increase tourism visitation and revenue.