VTC VA250 Tourism Marketing Program

The VTC VA250 Tourism Marketing Program is a partnership initiative between the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) and the Virginia 250 Commission. This grant is designed to support the marketing of commemorative events and programs tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Emphasizing themes such as history, freedom, innovation, and entrepreneurship, the program seeks to increase visitation to Virginia through strategic tourism campaigns and promotional activities. The Virginia 250 Commission was established by the General Assembly and is tasked with organizing commemorative events for America's Semiquincentennial. Funding from this grant is capped at $10,000 and must be matched 1:1 with cash contributions from applicants. Only projects located in Virginia and spearheaded by officially recognized VA250 committees, historic sites, or museums are eligible to apply. A minimum of three financial partners—one of which must serve as the lead—must collaborate on the proposal. These partners must all be based in Virginia unless non-Virginia partners are also included, in which case the majority must still be Virginia-based and the project must be located within the state. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, meaning applicants must front the cost and provide proof of payment for both the reimbursed items and matching contributions. The grant supports marketing-related activities such as interpretive markers (with marketing plans), advertisements, print materials, website development, event-related AV equipment rentals, promotional photography and videos, insurance, and trade show participation. Ineligible expenses include operating costs, salaries, travel, equipment purchases, and promotional merchandise. To apply, organizations must submit a detailed marketing plan, performance metrics, a sustainability plan, letters of support from relevant Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), and proper use of required logos and website links in all marketing materials. Preference is given to regional projects and first-time applicants. Applications are evaluated on a merit-based scoring system with a maximum of 105 points available across categories such as program focus, partnerships, marketing plans, and performance measures. An additional 5 points are awarded for projects that tie into the "Virginia is for Lovers" campaign. The Spring 2025 round opens March 25, 2025, and closes April 24, 2025. Award notifications are expected in mid-June 2025. The program typically runs biannually, with the next round anticipated to open in Fall 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to read the full Terms & Conditions and reach out with questions to the grants team. Contact information includes Staci Martin (smartin@virginia.org, 757-390-7330), Noah Salaah ad-Deen (nsaddeen@virginia.org, 804-545-5518), and Shruthi Manimaran (smanimaran@virginia.org, 804-545-5577). Applicants should also reference the VA250 digital toolkit (https://live.standards.site/va250-toolkit/, password: USAVA1776) for guidance on program themes and branding requirements.

Ensure applications are complete and address scoring criteria, as incomplete applications score poorly. Clearly differentiate between match and reimbursable expenses. Regional programs and projects integrating the "Virginia is for Lovers" campaign may receive bonus points.