Barter Theatre has received $10,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program, designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging limited local marketing dollars through a local match of the state grants funds.
More than $1.9 million in matching grant funds were awarded to 161 local tourism initiatives through this program. This funding cycle, local partners will provide more than $5.6 million in-kind value to match the VTC grants. The grants will ultimately impact 483 statewide tourism entities.
Barter Theatre will use the grant funds to facilitate digital marketing efforts and website optimization targeted at bringing new visitors to the Abingdon and Tri-Cities area.
“Abingdon is very grateful for the marketing support from Virginia Tourism Corporation. Barter Theatre is an important asset for Abingdon, and we are thrilled that they were included in the VTC’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program,” said Amanda Livingston, tourism and marketing manager for the town of Abingdon.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the tourism and hospitality industries in Virginia. As the Commonwealth slowly reopens for business, VTC offered these grant funds as a first step to re-entry into the marketplace to spur economic activity and future travel across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
