Tourism Marketing & Expanded Facilities Grant Program

Augusta County, Virginia has announced the 2025 Tourism Marketing & Expanded Facilities Grant Program, aimed at strengthening and expanding the county’s tourism sector. This local initiative is led by Augusta County Tourism and is focused specifically on enhancing tourism marketing and infrastructure within the county. The program is designed to provide targeted financial support for new marketing campaigns and facility upgrades that attract visitors and drive regional economic growth through tourism. Projects must demonstrate a direct impact on tourism by increasing out-of-region visitation and promoting travel to Augusta County. The grant program is structured into two funding categories. First, applicants may seek funding of up to $5,000 for marketing campaigns that promote local events, businesses, fairs, festivals, and other tourism destinations. These campaigns may include advertising, design, printing, and promotional activities that elevate Augusta County as a travel destination. Second, applicants may apply for up to $10,000 for facility expansion projects, including renovations, upgrades, or new physical spaces that enhance tourism infrastructure and increase the capacity to host visitors. The goal of this category is to create lasting improvements to local attractions that elevate visitor experience and economic outcomes. The program specifically targets new initiatives—whether it's a novel marketing approach for an existing event or a fresh investment into physical upgrades. Repeating past campaigns or funding general operations will not be eligible. All proposed projects must show creative strategies, strong marketing and promotional plans, and ideally include collaboration or partnership with other Augusta County businesses to boost impact. Facility expansion proposals will be assessed on how they increase visitation, improve visitor experiences, and drive economic benefit through tourism-related sales. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to tourism-related businesses or organizations operating within Augusta County. The grant is not available to individuals or applicants outside the region. While detailed eligibility categories such as nonprofit status or business size are not explicitly outlined, the focus on tourism-related projects within the county implies applicability to both for-profit and nonprofit entities involved in the tourism economy. Applications for the 2025 round are currently being accepted and must be submitted by August 1, 2025. The opportunity is competitive, and successful applicants will be chosen based on a comprehensive review of how effectively their project is likely to increase tourism. The grant program does not operate on a rolling basis and is not explicitly described as recurring, so applicants are advised to treat this as a one-time opportunity unless otherwise stated in future announcements. For additional information or questions regarding the application process, applicants are encouraged to contact the Augusta County Tourism staff by email at staff@augustaVAbusiness.com or by phone at 540-245-5619. More general information about the county’s tourism offerings can be found at www.visitaugustacounty.com. The program reflects Augusta County’s ongoing investment in outdoor lifestyle, economic development, and its positioning within Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley tourism ecosystem.