CACVB announces non-profit tourism marketing funding program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Kurt Burkhart

burkhart@

CHARLOTTESVILLE ALBEMARLE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE FOR NON-PROFIT TOURISM MARKETING FUNDING OF FESTIVALS & CULTURAL EVENTS

Information orientation session to be held at City Space on July 6

Charlottesville, VA (July 1, 2015) – The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB) announced today that the popular Non-Profit Tourism Marketing Funding Program is now open. The CACVB will hold an information orientation at City Space on July 6, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. and invites all interested organizations to attend and learn more about the application process, followed by time for questions and answers.

The Non-Profit Tourism Marketing Funding for Festivals and Cultural Events, formerly under the ABRT program, is now handled directly through the CACVB. Applicant organizations approved under this program will have funding available to promote and market their festival and cultural event being held from July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 (FY17). This program is not for operational funding of festivals and events.

Applicant organizations that meet all the requirements for receiving marketing funding will be considered along with all others that qualify. The CACVB stresses that incomplete applications will not be accepted and encourages all applicants to thoroughly read and understand the entire application. Specific focus will be on how festivals and cultural events attract out-of-area visitors to the Charlottesville Albemarle area.

It is important to note that under its policy that governs this process, a festival is defined as an event that will, “take place over a one to ten-day period that spans over two weekends (a maximum of 10 days).” Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read this policy statement and application requirements to ascertain whether they meet the requirements, as stated.

The total amount available under this program is $40,000, with applicant organizations eligible for up to fifteen percent (15%) of this total, or $6,000.

The deadline for submitting completed applications is Thursday, July 30, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Organizations approved will be notified in late January or early February 2016. No extensions for submitting applications will be granted.

The CACVB encourages local media to provide information about this program to the community it serves. “We make every effort to get this information out to the greater Charlottesville community about this vitally important funding program,” said Kurt Burkhart, CACVB Executive Director. “Increasingly, non-profits are challenged with meeting funding requirements to sustain their festivals and cultural events, and reporting about this program will help these organizations take advantage of something they may not otherwise hear about.”

All information that will be provided at the July 6 meeting is now available on the CACVB’s website, .

About the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB)

In addition to providing a wealth of information on the area to individual visitors, the CVB assists tour operators, meeting planners, reunions and other groups to find attractions, restaurants, hotels, and other visitor related businesses. The CACVB’s mission is “to enhance the economic prosperity of City and County by promoting, selling and marketing the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle, as a destination, in pursuit of the meetings and tourism markets.”

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