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July 22, 2022
Dear Valued Tourism Industry Partners,
Right on cue, the “dog days of Summer” we’ve come to expect in July/August are here. In Virginia Beach, we like to call them “perfect beach days.” Here’s to a great summer so far!
Night Dredging for Inlet Navigational Improvement Underway - Please be aware, that the Resort Management Office reports the City’s dredging operation is underway at the Rudee Inlet Channel safety area. This part of the channel is experiencing serious shoaling conditions that pose a hazard to boaters traversing the waterway. This is a night operation to minimize any impact on guests and residents. The operation is secured by 6:00 a.m. each morning and is not active on Friday-Sunday nights. The public may observe the sand is darker in color but it poses no hazards, as it is organic to the nearby channel from which it originated. The Army Corps of Engineers permitted the dredging to occur and the project should take approximately two weeks to complete.
Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) To Open Applications for Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program Grants - VTC is offering a reimbursable grant program to assist small tourism-related businesses and to bolster non-peak seasonal visitation. The grant application period opens Aug. 4, 2022, with applications on Sept. 20, 2022. Eligible applicants should be tourism-related businesses that have 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and can include, but are not limited to: boutique retail shops, food trucks, attractions, craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, boutique lodging and Bed & Breakfasts, outfitters, and events and festivals focused on attracting visitors during low visitation times. Examples of marketing expenses that are eligible include, but are not limited to: digital advertising, social media boosts and sponsored ads, print advertising, hiring photographers and videographers, rack card printing and placement costs at Virginia Welcome Centers and Safety Rest Areas, display and promotional materials for trade shows and events.
Components of the grant program include:
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Who is eligible: Small tourism-related business with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees that can include but are not limited to boutique retail, restaurants, food trucks, small attractions, craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, boutique lodging, and B & Bs, outfitters, and events/festivals focused on non-peak seasonal visitation.
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Additional eligibility: Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and groups such as Planning District Commissions, Economic Development Authorities (EDA’s), and Main Street organizations.
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Application Requirements: A targeted and research-based marketing plan that demonstrates how applicants will use the grant money for marketing and promotions to fulfill the purposes of the grant program.
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Match Requirement: 1:1 cash or in-kind marketing match.
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Maximum Award: $5,000
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Application Period: Opens: August 4, 2022. Closes September 20, 2022.
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For information and questions, please contact VTCMLPGrant@virginia.org
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (VAQ) Adds New Excursion - We love to hear of new ways to experience Virginia Beach and join the VAQ in announcing their new dolphin-watching boat tour. The first of its kind on the East Coast, the 70-minute tour brings guests closer to wildlife in the new low-riding vessel called the Atlantic Scout. What makes the Atlantic Scout distinct is that it seats guests at sea level and provides a quieter and more adventurous experience with nature. Tickets are on sale now. More details may be found here.
Photo credit: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
Town Center SummerFest 2022 - Click here to see the lineup for this free concert series on the Town Center Fountain Plaza, courtesy of the Central Business District Association. The entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. nightly throughout summer.
Meetings & Convention/Services Team’s Prep for FY23 - Earlier this week, the M & C Sales & Service team and the VBCC sales team got together for a strategy retreat while reviewing FY22 and geared up for FY23!
Upcoming Events
As always, my team and I remain committed to you and our industry. Please let me know how we can assist.
Sincerely,
Nancy Helman
CVB Director
nhelman@visitvirginiabeach.com
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