Virginia Tourism Marketing Grants Have Been Awarded

Local tourism programs will receive new funding to boost regional travel during the off-season.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Employment

Virginia Tourism Marketing Grants Have Been Awarded

Live Poll

Should the state provide matching grants to help small tourism businesses market their local attractions?

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has awarded $205,300 in matching grants across 46 programs to stimulate travel. These initiatives, supported by an additional $273,130 in local matching funds, aim to boost activity during the holiday and spring travel seasons.

Why it matters

These grants help small tourism businesses attract visitors during slower months, supporting local economic stability. The funding builds on a state effort to bolster a tourism industry that generated $36.2 billion in spending during 2025.

The state awarded $205,300 in matching grants to 46 programs, which, when combined with $273,130 in local contributions, supports a total $478,400 marketing investment. This initiative currently benefits 276 tourism partners and supports 380 total jobs.

The players

Virginia Tourism Corporation

The state agency responsible for promoting the Commonwealth as a travel destination and managing tourism grant programs.

Governor of Virginia

The state executive who oversees the Strategic Statewide Tourism Plan initiated in April 2026.

The details

To qualify for funding, programs must utilize a hub-and-spoke model requiring at least six Virginia entities to collaborate on shared travel itineraries. This strategy encourages regional cooperation to drive visitors to smaller businesses during holiday, late winter, and spring break periods. The resulting campaigns are designed to sustain employment for 130 full-time and 250 part-time positions within the tourism sector.

2025: Virginia recorded $36.2 billion in total visitor spending.
April 2026: The governor launched a Strategic Statewide Tourism Plan.
October 14, 2026: The state announced the new grant awards.
2027: Additional marketing grant opportunities are scheduled.

Money Landscape

This grant cycle follows the Strategic Statewide Tourism Plan launched in April 2026 to enhance the state's travel economy. The effort aligns with long-term trends in visitor spending, which reached $36.2 billion in 2025.

Small business owners and employees in the tourism sector may see increased customer traffic during the upcoming holiday and spring off-seasons. For those managing a tourism-related budget, visit the Virginia Tourism Corporation grant information to review future application requirements.

The takeaway

Targeted marketing investments are being used to counteract off-season revenue lulls for small tourism operators. Business owners should track the 2027 grant schedule on the official corporation portal to identify future funding opportunities for their regional tourism initiatives.