Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Gloucester County, Virginia's Hidden Tourism Plan


Gloucester, VA - The Coleman Bridge.  Picture taken for the new Gloucester Links & News website. 

Imagine a tourist area that is made up of Colonial Yorktown with its’ battlefields, new Victory Museum, the Yorktown River Walk, the Waterman’s Museum, floating docks that can accommodate cruise ships up to 400’ long and numerous other tourist attractions. Further imagine two Virginia State Parks located on the York River in Gloucester; a National Park on the York River in the Capahosic area of Gloucester; the York River State Park on the York River in the Toano area of James City County and; New Quarter Park located next to Cheatham Annex and close to historic Williamsburg. Imagine tour boats picking up and dropping off tourists at each location as they navigate up and down the York River while tour guides describe locations of various shipwrecks on the floor of the York, the docks at the Navel Weapons Station and Cheatham Annex, watermen harvesting clams, fish, oysters and crabs, historical sites and so on. Imagine new marinas in Gloucester and more boats, jet skis and other watercraft enjoying the York River and it’s tributaries for recreation. Imagine Gloucester’s rich history being brought to the forefront and Gloucester becoming a high density part of Virginia’s tourism industry. Imagine ferry boats or an up river bridge connecting Gloucester to the Williamsburg area, creating a historic tourism circle made up of Gloucester, Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg. 

Now let reality set back in and let yourself begin to realize that a tourist area of that magnitude would cost hundreds of millions of dollars or more and would take a very long time to design, plan and complete. Let yourself begin to realize there would be even more negative impacts on commercial Watermen. Let yourself realize it will require more roads, housing, hotels, restaurants, fire and rescue, police, schools and bigger local government. Finally let yourself realize Gloucester County would no longer be the quiet little town it has been throughout history.

It is now time for a serious question. What would you say if you learned that such a tourism plan has been in the works for several years and that several steps have already been taken to move the concept forward without informing the People that such a plan exists? After reading the rest of this article we think you will realize that is exactly what is occurring as none of the steps taken thus far have included public statements from anyone acknowledging or even mentioning the existence of a non-publicly disclosed master plan that we believe has been in existence for over 20 years. Anyway, here are just few steps that have been taken publicly so far without the un-named plan being mentioned.

On February 14, 2014 the daily press reported funding for a new state park on the York River and Aberdeen Creek was being sought by local legislators to begin constructing amenities to include trails, camp sites, cabins and water access. The Daily Press reported that Del. Keith Hodges, R-Middlesex, and Sen. Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment, R-James City were seeking $8 million for work on the first phase of the park which include roads, a beach, swimming area, seven miles of trails, a fishing pier and other basic amenities. A 2011 park master plan estimated the cost of the first phase at $13.3 million. Hodges had also requested $600,000 to pay for staff and equipment to develop the park. The park has 2,260 feet of York River shoreline at an area where the river is two miles wide, it has 3,776 feet of shoreline along Aberdeen Creek, it encompasses 431 acres of land and was purchased in 2005 for $3.9 million from Newport News resident Pela Hundley during former Gov. Mark Warner's administration. (The same Pela Hundley who sold the new Page Middle School property to Gloucester County in 2004.) The property purchase was financed using general obligation bonds from a voter-approved state referendum in 2002. Phase two plans for lodging facilities at the state park include 30 camping sites and a group camp site, 10 cabins to include one three-bedroom, eight two-bedrooms, one lodge, a picnic area and a play area. More amenities are included with a price tag of $13.6 million for phase II. A 2010 park master plan estimated the total cost of the park to be around $28.2 million.

On May 20, 2014 the Daily press reported President Obama’s proposed budget called for spending $6 million on the Werowocomoco site in Gloucester and the John Smith Trail, which traces Smith's exploratory journey throughout the Chesapeake Bay area from 1607 to 1609. (The story behind this park coming to the attention of the President is another complex and somewhat curious story that will be covered in the future.) Governor Terry McAuliffe visited the farm that is owned by Bob and Lynn Ripley which was supposedly home to Chief Powhatan and his daughter Pocahontas when settlers arrived in Virginia in 1607. That during the Governor’s visit he is reported to have said the property could link Gloucester with the Hampton Roads region's famed Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg. The Daily Press further reported that McAuliffe said he had briefed and had the full support of Virginia's congressional delegation about the proposal for the national park. They also reported that he sees Werowocomoco National Park and the John Smith Trail as a way to draw tourists, help diversify the state's economy and bring money to communities such as Gloucester. The Daily Press reported that he said he can see tourists landing from the water.

On August 7, 2012 the Daily Press reported that the Gloucester Board of Supervisors unanimously approved establishing “No Discharge” zones in Gloucester. The establishment of these zones means boaters will be prohibited from dumping human sewage in the Piankatank River, Mobjack Bay and the York River and all of their tributaries. On October 7, 2014 the Board of Supervisors authorized the Gloucester Go Green Advisory Committee to submit an application for the establishment of No Discharge Zones in Sarah Creek and the Perrin River. Currently, the Federal Clean Water Act prohibits dumping untreated sewage from boats anywhere in the U.S., but does permit dumping treated sewage from certain marine sanitation devices in U.S. waters, except in No Discharge Zones. Once No Discharge Zones are establish even those with both device types will not be permitted to dump sewage in the No Discharge Zone waters and will be required to have human waste removed from their boats at marinas with waste pumping stations or through other on-land disposal facilities.

In March 2015 Lewis Lawrence, executive director of the Hampton Roads Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission made a presentation to the Gloucester Board of Supervisors on dredging Aberdeen Creek. During this briefing Lawrence said watermen have been raising concerns in recent years about their ability to get boats in and out of the wharf at the end of the creek. He further said that in 2009 the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority and Planning District Commission were asked to study Aberdeen Creek as a commercial seafood hub, specifically looking at land-use issues and options for dredging. This study was funded through a grant from Virginia's Coastal Zone Program. (A “networked program”. established to manage Virginia's coastal resources, the program relies on a network of state agencies and local governments to administer the enforceable laws and regulations that protect our wetlands, dunes, subaqueous lands, fisheries, and air and water quality within the Virginia “Coastal Zone.) The Daily Press reported that the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is performing an economic impact study and that Lawrence said the dredging could cost $600,000 to $1.5 million, depending on the extent of the project. They further reported him saying the most probable cost should be around $744,000, or $93,000 a year which would be paid for by Gloucester taxpayers over eight years.

On April 16, 2015 the Gloucester Board of Supervisors repealed the Boat Tax, resulting in a $438,000 annual revenue loss.

On July 19, 2015 the Daily Press reported that Governor McAuliffe, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Department of Transportation met under the bridge at Gloucester Point where they signed a memorandum of understanding which asks the three agencies to work together to identify new potential public access projects, especially at bridge crossings and roads. The Daily Press quoted McAuliffe saying, "Where ever we have VDOT next to one of our state parks and [there is a bridge] or an opportunity for us to build at that waterway and allow people to access the water I want that done"

On October 20, 2015 the Gloucester Board of Supervisors received a presentation on what is being referred to as the York River Stewardship Program. The presentation primarily focused on what is being called the York River Maritime Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Initiative. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is legally responsible for the management of maritime heritage resources within designated sanctuaries. According to NOAA, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to, “…designate and manage areas of the marine environment with special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archaeological, educational or esthetic qualities as National Marine Sanctuaries.” In other words, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce will be in complete control of the York River, its tributaries and land that “may” impact the condition of the York River. Bodies of water that are designated sanctuaries under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act appear to be highly regulated, especially in the area of commercial fishing. The president of the Waterman’s Museum Board also shared that York River boat tours leaving from the Waterman’s Museum will likely begin during the summer of 2016.

As we said earlier, those are only some of the steps that have been taken to push along the un-named project. Other steps that have been taken include things like; several million dollars in improvements to Hickory Fork Road; multiple strategically placed mixed use development type plans that have been approved in Gloucester; strategic land purchases by a small number of individuals who obviously know more about the un-named plan than the general public; building Page Middle School on T.C. Walker Road with plans to relocate the school bus garage and sell the property being in the works long before the tornado damaged Page and; the efforts of the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust to re-construct Main Street, through a backdoor tax dollar funding mechanism called library and health department space rent. There are plenty more occurrences that clearly demonstrate a long and continuous effort by a few individuals to bring the un-known plan to reality and profit from it without letting the vast majority of Gloucester residents, businesses and property owners know what is actually taking place. There are people who live among us and elsewhere who have and continue to take advantage of knowing things the majority of Gloucester property owners have no knowledge of. Just like what went on with Page Middle School; the plans for the un-named plan have been created, the People’s money is being spent and when the time comes, the whole thing will be shoved down a huge majority of the People’s throats and the few who were in the “know” will profit.

We are not trying to advocate for or against the un-named plan as our primary goal is to let everyone know what is going on I Gloucester County. We realize there could be many long term benefits for Gloucester’s residents, businesses and property owners, but we also know that when things are done outside of the People’s watchful eye, many get taken advantage of so a few greedy individuals can profit. Our advice to Gloucester property owners is to hang onto what you have because within the next several years the value of your property will increase. Don’t be fooled by offers that appear to be high in comparison to Gloucester’s assessed value as the assessment is not a true reflection of your property’s true worth, even though the Code of Virginia requires all properties to be assessed at true market value. That does not happen in Gloucester. A prime example of this is the Route 17 frontage property that connects to the new Page Middle School property, which Harry Corr, now deceased, purchased one day before the School Board voted to build Page on that property. Mr. Corr paid the Pella Hundley Trust more than six times the properties’ assessed values, or so it would appear in Gloucester’s online land records. (Again the Hundley name comes up) As can be seen from this example, Gloucester’s assessments appear to be far lower than true market value.

Should Gloucester become a tourist destination and retirement community, or should it remain a place to live away from all of that?

Kenny Hogge, Sr.
Gloucester Point, Virginia

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Governor McAuliffe kicks off VA-1 Tourism Summit

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe kicked off the 2014 Virginia-1 (VA-1) Tourism Summit at the Hyatt Regency Reston today where he highlighted Virginia’s strength as a tourist destination and discussed ways tourism can contribute to Virginia’s economic growth and keep the Commonwealth competitive. During the summit, Governor McAuliffe announced the creation of an LGBT Tourism Task Force that will focus on showcasing Virginia as an LGBT-friendly destination and maximizing the opportunity for growth in this new tourism sector.  

“We’re unified by one common goal: to make Virginia a better place to live, work, play, and raise a family,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Tourism plays an important role in attaining that goal, building communities, and helping drive the new Virginia economy. We have an opportunity to build upon the progress Virginia made this year in achieving marriage equality and ensure that visitors across the globe know that the Commonwealth is open and welcoming to all. Not only will this task force focus on showcasing Virginia as an LGBT friendly destination, it will also work to maximize tourism growth in Virginia with all communities, nationally and internationally.”

The task force, led by Secretary Jones, will be comprised of industry stakeholders, LGBT community members and business leaders. The group will make recommendations on how to make Virginia even more welcoming to the LGBT community.

VA-1, the Commonwealth’s annual summit that focuses on ways to maximize Virginia’s tourism potential, had more than 400 people from all sectors of Virginia’s tourism industry in attendance this year.  The summit also aimed at identifying new and game changing ideas to stay competitive, leveraging new opportunities through networking and relationship building, and advancing Virginia's prominence as a premier, global travel destination.  Breakout sessions included topics such as “The Power of Creative Communities,” “Building Major Music Festivals,” “Marketing Virginia Weddings” and “Eco Travel & Tourism.”

Also driving home the importance of tourism in Virginia, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones said“Tourism has consistently proven to be a sound investment for Virginia. “It is an instant revenue generator, channeling millions of dollars into the Commonwealth’s coffers and into the revenue stream to local governments.”

Tourism is a $21.5 billion industry employing 213,000 Virginians statewide.

For more information on the VA-1 Tourism Summit, visit vatc.org/va1.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. For more information, visit virginia.org.


(We sincerely hope this announcement did not make you sick with all kinds of buzz words that mean we are really working on screwing as many families as possible and destroying the Virginia economy.)

Monday, September 22, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Matching Tourism Grants

Program will generate more than $3 million in marketing initiatives
46 local tourism partners to receive public-private marketing dollars to bolster economy; grants will impact at least 195 statewide tourism entities

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that more than $852,000 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 46 local tourism initiatives as part of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) Marketing Leverage Program. The grants are designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars, and will ultimately impact at least 195 other statewide tourism entities. The local organizations match the state grant funds by a minimum of 2:1 in order to support marketing projects. This funding cycle, the local partners will match the VTC grant dollars with more than $2.1 million, providing more than $3 million in new marketing to increase visitation to Virginia.

“These grants equip local tourism businesses with the tools they need to stay competitive,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The Marketing Leverage Program grants help support and grow a robust and diversified new Virginia economy and encourage strategic marketing of tourism products and businesses across the Commonwealth, generating revenue and jobs.”

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2013, tourism generated $21.5 billion in revenue, supported 213,000 jobs and provided $1.42 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.

VTC’s Marketing Leverage Program is designed to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars, stimulating new tourism marketing through partnerships, and extending the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand.  A minimum of three Virginia entities must partner financially to apply for a grant.  Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, 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 $1.7 million annually - matched and leveraged on average 3:1 by partner dollars.

“The grants are supporting businesses across the Commonwealth, contributing to the overall economic health of our communities,” said Maurice Jones, Secretary of Commerce and Trade.“The state’s investment maximizes local marketing funds, allowing for localities to double and sometimes triple their marketing power to attract more visitors. This is a powerful tool for small businesses across the state.”

Details on the grant awards are below. The next round of VTC Marketing Leverage Program grants will open September 29, 2014. Localities interested in applying may visit www.vatc.org for more information.






Grant Program Name


Lead Partner


Award Amount



Capture the Clinch


Clinch River Adventures


$9,895.00



Bush Mill: Millstones, Mountains, Memories


Southwest Virginia Community Foundation


$2,500.00



Music, Milk & Marketing


Lee County


$5,125.00



Shenandoah Valley Kids Trail


Great Country Farms


$50,000.00



America's Historic Triangle Marketing Program


Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Inc


$50,000.00



This is RVA Launch


Valentine Richmond History Center


$5,000.00



Virginia By Rail


VisitNorfolk


$7,500.00



Humpback Bridge - History Over the Water


Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism


$10,000.00



Claw of the Dragon Southwest Virginia Motorcycle Trail


Wytheville Convention & Visitors Bureau


$50,000.00



"Heart Rate" Campaign


Heart of Appalachia


$50,000.00



What's Your Bot-e-Type? Social Media Campaign


Botetourt County Office of Tourism


$30,500.00



Authentic Abingdon Overnight: Experience Culture, Make Memories


Barter Theatre


$25,000.00



Blue Ridge Standard Time Campaign


Roanoke Valley CVB


$50,000.00



Middlesex County Marketing Initiative


Middlesex County


$7,400.00



Historic Downtown Wytheville - Where the LOVE is!


Bolling Wilson Hotel


$50,000.00



My Bristol Visit


Bristol Convention & Visitors Bureau


$27,340.00



More of What Matters Campaign


Mecklenburg County Tourism Office


$11,716.50



Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival


Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest


$5,000.00



New River Valley Trail Guide


New River Valley Planning District Commission


$3,000.00



Rappahannock River Community Branding


Town of Kilmarnock


$13,300.00



Bluegrass, Barbecue & Brew Festival at Patrick Henry's Red Hill


Red Hill, Patrick Henry National Memorial


$3,057.00



Hunter's Raid Civil War Trail


Lexington and Rockbridge Area Tourism


$3,500.00



Believe in Bristol Digital Marketing Platform


Believe in Bristol


$10,000.00



Find Your Sweet Spot In Highland County


Highland County Economic Development Authority


$6,500.00



Virginia Science Festival


Science Museum of Western Virginia


$24,707.50



Fall Oyster Fests on Virginia's Eastern Shore


Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission


$4,750.00



Route 5 Tourism Website and Take 5! Marketing Campaign


The Route 5 Corridor Coalition


$3,124.50



Richmond Garden Trail


Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden


$2,900.00



Promoting the Shenandoah Valley as a Green Wedding Destination


Hermitage Hill Farm & Stables


$5,000.00



Virginia is for "Opera" Lovers


Virginia Opera


$50,000.00



Salvage Dawgs Weekend Getaway


Black Dog Salvage


$4,750.00



Smith Mountain Lake Online Marketing and Responsive Website


Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce


$9,878.00



Tom Tom Founders Festival


Tom Tom Foundation


$50,000.00



Explore the Depths…Newport News Museums Revealed!


The Mariners' Museum


$10,000.00



Declare Your Independence with a Northern Neck Getaway


Stratford Hall - the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association


$10,000.00



"Come Play Outdoors!" Shenandoah County Outdoor Recreation


Shenandoah County


$4,760.00



Big Stone Gap The Movie Regional Promotion Phase II


Town of Big Stone Gap


$12,580.50



It’s Always Playtime in Abingdon - TV and Digital Campaign


Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau


$50,000.00



Northern Virginia Canadian Marketing Campaign


Northern Virginia Visitors Consortium


$9,375.00



Engaging Visitors all Across Virginia's Artisan and Oyster Trails


Artisan Center of Virginia


$23,225.00



Bringing Castleton to the World


Castleton Festival


$50,000.00



Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k Marketing Initiative


Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers


$25,000.00



Choose Your Own (Staunton) Adventure


American Shakespeare Center


$3,627.00



Find Yourself in the Heart of Southwest Virginia


Russell County Board of Supervisors


$5,000.00



Virginia Fall Foliage Art Show


Fall Foliage Festival Art Show


$4,650.00



NoVa Loves the Blues


Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization


$2,750.00







Thursday, January 2, 2014

Governor McDonnell Announces Matching Tourism Grants, Gloucester Gets Nothing

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / ...
English: The state seal of Virginia.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Program will generate nearly $4 million in marketing initiatives
42 local tourism partners to receive public-private marketing dollars to bolster economy; grants will impact at least 184 statewide tourism entities

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that more than $750,000 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 42 local tourism initiatives as part of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) Marketing Leverage Grant program. The grants are designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars, and will ultimately impact at least 184 other statewide tourism entities. The local organizations match the state grant funds by a minimum of 2:1 in order to support marketing projects. This funding cycle, the local partners will match the VTC grant dollars with nearly $3 million, providing nearly $4 million total in new marketing to increase visitation to Virginia.

“These grants are an important tool that will enable our localities to more effectively market themselves to potential visitors,” said Governor McDonnell. “More visitors in Virginia mean greater tax revenue, a better business environment, and more good jobs for Virginians.”

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2012 tourism generated $21.2 billion in revenue, supported 210,000 jobs and provided $1.36 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.

VTC’s Marketing Leverage Program is designed to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars, stimulating new tourism marketing through partnerships, and extending the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand.  A minimum of three Virginia entities must partner financially to apply for a grant.  Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, 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 $1.7 million annually - matched and leveraged on average 3:1 by partner dollars - to more than 80 communities across the Commonwealth.

“These grants enable local tourism partners to pursue projects that might otherwise be beyond their budget,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “The Marketing Leverage Grants program is a powerful tool in helping to support and grow a robust economy in Virginia. Our local partners are working on amazing projects and campaigns that will help to beautify communities, bring more visitors to Virginia, and create even more outstanding tourism products that visitors will continue to fall in love with year after year.”

Details on the grant awards are below. The next round of VTC Marketing Leverage Program grants will open in spring 2014. Localities interested in applying may visit www.vatc.org for more information.

Organization
Project
Amount
Town of Big Stone Gap
Big Stone Gap The Movie Regional Promotion
$ 5,000.00
Garth Newel Music Center
Great Escapes: Garth Newel Music Center and Fort Lewis Lodge
$ 25,000.00
Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau
Create Repeat Visitation Through Stellar Customer Service
$ 50,000.00
Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority
Appalachian Backroads - Motorcycle & Scenic Driving Tours/Trails
$ 10,000.00
City of Salem-Tourism Office
Summer Love in Salem
$ 50,000.00
Museum of the Confederacy
Countdown to the Sesquicentennial
$ 14,500.00
Wytheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Fun for Everyone: Festivals & Events in the Wytheville Area
$ 50,000.00
Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office
Content Creation for Inaugural Montgomery County Regional Website and Visitor's Guide
$ 20,000.00
Virginia Arts Festival
Engage, Inspire, Build - Embracing Social & Digital Media to Expand Audiences
$ 50,000.00
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District 2014-2016 Marketing Campaign
$ 25,360.00
Friends of the Culpeper County Library
Culpeper Tells…A Festival of Words
$ 8,750.00
The Crooked Road
Miles & Miles of Music Festival
$ 50,000.00
Surry County Government
Branding Surry County: Yes, Virginia, There is a Surry County

$ 50,000.00
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Get Rooted in Appalachia - Local Food Campaign
$ 31,900.00
Visit Loudoun Foundation
Visit Loudoun Research Program
$ 25,860.00
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
The Richmond Regional Ride Center (RRRC)
$ 10,000.00
Halifax County Dept. of Tourism
Halifax-Mecklenburg Blueway
$ 10,000.00
City of Alexandria, Office of Historic Alexandria
Alexandria War of 1812 Commemoration
$ 10,000.00
County of Mecklenburg
Petersburg to Appomattox Campaign
$ 13,500.00
Abingdon Main Street
Shop, Dine, Play and Stay Downtown
$ 5,000.00
Waynesboro Parks and Recreation
Valley Race Series Promotion
$ 2,500.00
Historic Manassas Inc
Visitmanassas.org Website Makeover
$ 4,250.00
Martinsville-Henry County EDC's Tourism & Film Division
Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia: A Visual Tour
$ 3,516.50
Smyth County Tourism Association
Southwest Virginia Flyfishing Trail
$ 15,310.33
Visit Loudoun
Epicurience Virginia
$ 50,000.00
Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Luray and Page County: Beauty and Adventure on Every Level
$ 25,000.00
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
87th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival ‘The Land of Pink & Green!’
$ 25,000.00
Rassawek Vineyard
Visit Goochland/Rassawek Spring Jubilee
$ 2,500.00
Starr Hill Brewery LLC
Starr Hill Brewery 2013 Marketing and Events Program
$ 25,000.00
City of Poquoson
Poquoson is the Place for Tourism
$ 2,557.50
VistaGraphics
Coastal Virginia Wine Fest
$ 12,500.00
Out of the Woodwork Productions
The Virginia Renaissance Faire Marketing for 2013-14
$ 4,988.27
Mountain Cove Vineyard
Jefferson Heritage Trail
$ 5,000.00
Virginia Highland Festival
Get Your Kicks
$ 6,281.50
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
Fields of Gold - Shenandoah Valley's Farm Trail
$ 3,250.00
Ashland Main Street Association
Find Your Passion in Ashland: The Center of Universe
$ 5,000.00
ESVAF Inc
Tall Ships at Cape Charles Festival 2014
$ 5,000.00
Madison Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center
Madison County Tourism “Ride, Hike, Taste, Stay”
$ 5,000.00
The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce
Good Times, Tastes & Traditions; featuring Farming in the Valley
$ 5,000.00
Orange Downtown Alliance
edible Food Fest in Orange
$ 5,000.00
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center
Tennis is for Lovers in Virginia Beach
$ 25,000.00
Cove Ridge Foundation
Virginia Is For Lovers of Southwest Virginia Mountain Parks
$ 2,500.00

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit www.Virginia.org to start planning a vacation or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

Our Notes:

We have noticed that Gloucester, VA did not get one penny for matching funds from the state?  One has to wonder why?  Did local officials fail to apply?  Did local officials apply but because of activities we constantly report on here the county was refused matching funds for their lack of compliance in so many areas?  We think these are valid questions to ask.  It looks like the county missed out on some very serious money and opportunities to pull in additional revenue for the county.  One has to wonder.
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