Agritourism in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia will be able to roll out a whole new range of activities in the coming years thanks to a recent $60,000 grant from the Building Collaborative Communities program. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission will administer the grant on behalf of the Fields of Gold region. Funds will be allocated to develop partnerships, create business support services for farmers and agritourism operators, market the Valley’s rich agricultural offerings and build a sustainable organizational structure for long-term viability.
State Sen. Emmett W. Hanger commented on the importance of the Fields of Gold program to the Shenandoah Valley’s economy: “Promoting the Shenandoah Valley as a diverse agritourism destination through the Fields of Gold initiative is a solid economic development tool that will enhance the economic viability of area agricultural enterprises. The award of the Building Collaborative Communities grant provides program planners the resources necessary to build an infrastructure that ensures the longevity and effectiveness of the initiative.”
Fields of Gold is a collaborative regional economic development program serving seven counties and five cities in the Shenandoah Valley: Counties of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Page and the Cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro. Fields of Gold is focused on promoting the Shenandoah Valley as an agritourism destination, creating and retaining jobs on the farm, expanding tourism jobs off the farm, and nurturing an environment for entrepreneurism.
Program participants like Julie Haushalter of White Oak Lavender Farm see the program as an invaluable support for agricultural businesses: “The Fields of Gold agritourism program allows producers like White Oak Lavender to attract more visitors to the farm and more effectively market our lavender products. Establishing the Shenandoah Valley as a destination for agricultural activities raises awareness that our region is an amazing destination for a unique vacation. The award of the Building Collaborative Communities grant allows for creating an even stronger network of farmers, regional organizations and tourism programs.”
Building Collaborative Communities is a broad-based program that brings to bear resources from a number of state entities, including the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, Department of Business Assistance, Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Tobacco Commission, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Virginia Community College System and other agencies as appropriate.
“In its first year, Building Collaborative Communities jumpstarted several regional collaborative efforts across the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell. “The selected projects focus on and facilitate involvement from the private sector, community organizations and various other regional organizations that can make the collaboration a success.”
For more information on the Fields of Gold agritourism initiative and upcoming events, visit the CSPDC website or Facebook.
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