Greenbrier County CVB Awards Funding to 12 Local Organizations for Tourism Marketing

Lewisburg, WV (February 11, 2013) - Funds totaling $16,540 were recently awarded to twelve Greenbrier County organizations for tourism marketing through the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau's Cooperative Advertising Grant Program.

Each year, the CVB sets aside a portion of its budget to assist local organizations with their tourism marketing efforts. A requirement of the applicant's marketing plan must be to reach visitors outside of a 50-mile radius, with a focus on getting event attendees to spend the night. Groups, including two or more businesses, organizations and nonprofits operating in Greenbrier County may apply for funding.

One such recipient of this year's funding is the Greenbrier Valley Bicycle Club for their promotion of the 7th Annual Wheels of Hope Ride scheduled for Saturday, July 20th. Event coordinators are hoping to attract 500 riders and are using an aggressive advertising approach to entice new riders to this year's event. With grant dollars supporting online advertising and the printing of rack cards, event coordinators are hopeful that a wider audience from the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states will participate.

Since July of 2002, the Greenbrier County CVB has given more than $323,000 in direct marketing grants to many of the county's fairs, festivals, and non-profit organizations.
Applications for the CVB's mini grants are reviewed by the organization's Grants and Research Committee twice each year, in January and July. Requests can be made up to $2,000. The next deadline is Monday, July 1, 2013.

The recipients from the January application period include: Alderson Quilters and Crafters of The Alderson Community Center, Carnegie Hall, Greenbrier Group to Fight Pancreatic Cancer, Greenbrier Historical Society, Greenbrier Valley Bicycle Club, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lewisburg Chocolate Festival, Lewisburg Downtown Business Association, Lewisburg Literary Festival, Main Street White Sulphur Springs, Trillium Collective and United Way of Greenbrier Valley.

For more information about the CVB's Cooperative Advertising Grant Program, call 304-645-1000.