Nevada Tourism awards $294,677 in state grants for tourism marketing
CARSON CITY, Nev. — A proposal to create trail maps for North Lake Tahoe and another to produce a television program featuring areas along Nevada’s U.S. 50 corridor are among 65 projects approved for funding from the state’s Rural Grants Program, Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison announced today. The Nevada Commission on Tourism has authorized $294,677 in grants for programs and initiatives to deliver more tourists to rural Nevada.
“We are pleased to announce our most recent investment in Nevada’s rural communities,” Hutchison, NCOT chairman, said. “These grants help fund projects that raise awareness of the state’s rural destinations, which is one of the goals of the commission. We applaud Nevada’s rural tourism industry, and are happy to assist in their efforts with this latest grant distribution.”
The Rural Grants Program funds are awarded twice a year. This recent distribution is the second in 2015. A total of $1.4 million was awarded in 2015.
Among the funded projects:
- A $10,000 grant was approved for the North Tahoe Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau to develop, design and produce a series of trail maps identifying the North Lake Tahoe trail networks. North Lake Tahoe offers an abundance of outdoor activities; the maps will be designed to generate buzz about and raise awareness of the area’s hiking, biking and paddling terrain.
- A $15,600 award was granted to Pony Express Territory, an organization that promotes tourism along the Nevada’s U.S. 50 corridor, to film area adventures and historic sites for use in a half-hour television show promoting the area. The show would run on cable TV, as a looping video in area visitors’ centers, and at travel and trade shows. It also would be posted on the Pony Express website and on its YouTube channel.
- A $10,000 grant was awarded to the city of West Wendover to create six 30-second TV spots promoting the West Wendover experience: dining, gaming, entertainment, attractions, activities and events. The spots also can be utilized online and on West Wendover’s social media channels.
- A $7,200 award was given to Indian Territory, an organization promoting tribal tourism, for Nevada Tribal Tourism Training. The training provides Nevada tribes and tribal members with the opportunity to increase their knowledge of tribal tourism projects and initiatives that exist across the nation.
- An $8,000 grant was approved for Nevada Silver Trails, an organization that promotes tourism to the state’s central and southern rural areas, to advertise in American Road Magazine. Previous advertising in American Road Magazine has performed well, yielding thousands of responses, including downloads of itineraries and write-in requests for information. The current slate of ads will run in winter-spring 2015-16.
- A $1,462 award was given to Las Vegas-based Destination Services Association to participate in a bridal trade show in August. The grant will help the group secure trade show booths, display tables and services; as well as help with the costs of shipping brochures and supplies, and with travel expenses.
“The Rural Grants Program helps the state’s rural communities boost their tourism profile, helping to drive domestic and international visitation today and into the future,” Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Director Claudia Vecchio said. “The initiatives approved through these grants showcase the unique appeals of Nevada’s diverse destinations in ways that are best accomplished by the local communities.
Grants are awarded to nonprofit entities for tourism marketing projects that will result in overnight stays, ultimately increasing room tax revenue for the state. Grant recipients must provide a 50-50 match in funds or volunteer hours. The Nevada Division of Tourism distributes the grants in the form of reimbursement to the recipients after the projects are completed and labor and funding details are documented.
NCOT advises the Nevada Division of Tourism, which receives three-eighths of the 1 percent room tax as its operating budget. A portion of those funds are expended on the Rural Grants Program, which helps nonprofit groups and government agencies in rural Nevada enhance visitation and boost revenue from overnight stays. Funding for the Rural Grants Program does not come from the state’s general fund.
Rural grants recommendations December 2016
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The Nevada Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada) is part of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. It promotes and markets Nevada as a tourism destination for domestic and international leisure and business travelers through its marketing and advertising programs and by coordinating partnerships between public and private entities. Travel Nevada also administers grant programs for local entities to market travel and tourism offerings and publishes Nevada Magazine.
