Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program Grant

Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program Grant is sponsored by Virginia Tourism Corporation. Provides funding to small businesses in the tourism sector to enhance their marketing efforts and attract more visitors to Virginia.

(VTC) Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program - Virginia Tourism Corporation You are here: Home / Grant and Funding Sources / (VTC) Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program The next round of this program: Opens : June 23, 2026 Closes: July 30, 2026 For questions, please email vtcgrants@virginia. org Reimbursable grant program to leverage existing marketing funds.

Requires a targeted and research-based marketing plan designed to drive tourism to Virginia.

Marketing Focus: Small business and shoulder season (September to May) marketing Who is eligible: Small tourism-related business with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees including boutique retail, restaurants, food trucks, small attractions, craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, boutique lodging and B&Bs, and events focused on shoulder season visitation Additional eligibility : Chambers of Commerce, NGOs, such as PDCs and Main Street organizations, may apply but the application must support microbusinesses and/or shoulder season visitation with a robust marketing plan.

If the Chamber, Main Street, or organization is an officially designated DMO appearing on this list www. vatc. org/dmolist then they may only apply in the VTC Vacation Starts with VA DMO MMLP Flagship program.

Match: 1:1 cash or in-kind How: Online application portal For information and questions, please email vtcgrants@virginia. org * It is strongly recommended to read the Terms & Conditions before beginning the application. Summer 2026 Virginia Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program Application Please note that text fields are limited to 1000 characters which is approximately 120 words.

Please be succinct, but detailed in your responses. This field is hidden when viewing the form Before you can continue to the application, please acknowledge the following (Click the checkmark and it will turn blue): I understand that this is a competitive program and a funding award is not guaranteed and I understand that my requested award may be reduced or denied based on available funding.

* I understand this is a 1:1 match program and that match can be in-kind or cash and no funds will be granted up front. * I understand that this program is for eligible expenses incurred between May 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, focused on driving fall/winter/spring visitation, and that my reimbursement requests must be submitted no later than by July 31, 2027.

* Applicant Business/Organization Name * (This must be the same as listed on your EIN and W-9) EIN # * Only one application permitted per EIN #” Application Organization Street Address * Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah U.S. Virgin Islands Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific Applicant Locality * If a town or DMO, please select the county where the town is located.

Accomack Albemarle Alexandria Alleghany Amelia Amherst Appomattox Arlington Augusta Bath Bedford Bland Botetourt Bristol Brunswick Buchanan Buckingham Buena Vista Campbell Caroline Carroll Charles City Charlotte Charlottesville Chesapeake Chesterfield Clarke Clarkesville Colonial Heights Covington Craig Culpeper Cumberland Danville Dickenson Dinwiddie Emporia Essex Fairfax Fairfax City Falls Church Fauquier Floyd Fluvanna Franklin Franklin-City Frederick Fredericksburg Galax Giles Gloucester Goochland Grayson Greene Greensville Halifax Hampton Hanover Harrisonburg Henrico Henry Highland Hopewell Isle Of Wight James City King And Queen King George King William Lancaster Lee Lexington Loudoun Louisa Lunenburg Lynchburg Madison Manassas Manassas Park Martinsville Mathews Mecklenburg Middlesex Montgomery Nelson New Kent Newport News Norfolk Northampton Northumberland Norton Nottoway Orange Page Patrick Petersburg Pittsylvania Poquoson Portsmouth Powhatan Prince Edward Prince George Prince William Pulaski Radford Rappahannock Richmond Richmond-City Roanoke Roanoke-City Rockbridge Rockingham Russell Salem Scott Shenandoah Smyth South Boston Southampton Spotsylvania Stafford Staunton Suffolk Surry Sussex Tazewell Virginia Beach Warren Washington Waynesboro Westmoreland Williamsburg Winchester Wise Wythe York Business/Organization Type * Small Business (Retail) Small Business (Outfitter/Tour Guide) Small Business (Lodging) Small Business (Restaurant/Food Truck)) Small Business (Other) Small Museum/Gallery Officially Recognized DMO Planning District Commission Virginia Main Street Org National Main Street Org Economic Development Authortity Local Government Econ Dev Office How many full-time employees do you have?

* How many part-time employees do you have? * Amount of Requested Funds (Max Award $5,000) * Use whole numbers only. Please refer to the maximum award for your attendance in the program Terms and Conditions.

Requested funds must equal to total of reimbursable marketing plan found in step 5 of application.

Applicant Contact Information Applicant Organization Primary Contact Name * Applicant Organization Secondary Contact Name * Secondary Contact Phone Number * State / Province / Region Marketing Initiative Focus * Arts & Culture Culinary History Music Outdoor Recreation Fall/Winter Holiday Marketing initiative Name * Goals and Partnerships (25 Points) What do you want to accomplish with your requested funds?

* (This should be measurable) Performance Measure #1 * # of Room Nights Meals Tax Revenue # of Customers # of Tickets Sold Annual Sales Sales Tax Revenue # of Visitors # of Event Attendees Occupancy Tax Revenue Performance Baseline #1 (now) * Performance Goal (May 2027) * Performance Measure #2 * # of Room Nights Meals Tax Revenue # of Customers # of Tickets Sold Annual Sales Sales Tax Revenue # of Visitors # of Event Attendees Occupancy Tax Revenue Performance Baseline #2 (now) * Performance Goal (May 2027) * Please refer to application instructions to understand VTC Hub & Spoke Model.

Lodging Partner * If the applicant is the lodging partner, please put the name of your property.

Business/Organization Category * Lodging Activity Attraction Restaurant Craft Beverage/Wine Boutique Retail Outdoor Recreation Business/Organization Category * Lodging Activity Attraction Restaurant Craft Beverage/Wine Boutique Retail Outdoor Recreation Business/Organization Category * Lodging Activity Attraction Restaurant Craft Beverage/Wine Boutique Retail Outdoor Recreation Business/Organization Category * Lodging Activity Attraction Restaurant Craft Beverage/Wine Boutique Retail Outdoor Recreation Business/Organization Category * Lodging Activity Attraction Restaurant Craft Beverage/Wine Boutique Retail Outdoor Recreation How will you and your partners work together to achieve your goals?

* What marketing message will help you and your partners achieve your visitation/visitor spending goals? Think about how you will motivate travelers to come to your business, events, or destination. * Research/Data (25 Points) What research/data did you use to set your goals?

* What research/data did you use to develop your marketing message? * Out of State Target Market * Baltimore, MD New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Harrisburg, PA Nashville, TN Pittsburgh, PA Atlanta, GA Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL Other What research/data are you using to choose this target market? * In-State Large Metro Target Market * Washington D.

C. Hampton Roads Richmond Roanoke-Salem Bristol Charlottesville Northern Virginia Harrisonburg Other What research/data are you using to choose this target market? * Select your target audience: * Friends Family Couples What research/data are you using to choose this target audience?

* Marketing Plans (50 Points) AS A REMINDER, please refer to the terms and conditions and program instructions to correctly complete the following marketing plans. In-Kind or Cash Match Marketing Plan * In-Kind Marketing Plan (This is your match. This grant requires a 1:1 match.

Be sure to read instructions on eligible items, how to value followers, and how to value earned media like magazine articles.) Max 10 lines. Use (+) to add lines to your in-kind marketing plan.

Match Type (Paid, Earned or Owned Media) Media Name Description of Media Type, Demographics, Target Market Publish, Placement and Count Date *REQUIRED* Amount/Value Total In-kind Marketing Plan * VTC Reimbursable Marketing Plan * Reimbursable Marketing Plan (This is what you would like be reimbursed by VTC. Be sure to review the eligible expenses list. Ineligible items will not be reimbursed.)

For Media Type, please select from the following: Instagram, Facebook Google Ads, Blue Ridge Outdoors, Leisure Digital Trip Advisor, Welcome Centers/PMAP, Other (Print), Other (Digital), or Other (Services).

Media Name Description of Media Type, Demographics, Target Market Publish/Placement Dates *REQUIRED* Amount Total Reimbursable Marketing Plan * BONUS POINTS: VIFL Activation Type (5 Bonus Points) How will you integrate the Virginia is for Lovers brand in your marketing and advertising materials?

(Select from Drop Down Box) VIFL Activation Type Virginia is for Lovers banner on-site Virginia is for Lovers merchandise for sale on-site Signed up for PR Leads VTC Photography/Videography opportunity Press pass to event/concert/festival Other Beyond the required usage of the Virginia is for Lovers logo, how will you integrate the Virginia is for Lovers brand in your marketing and advertising materials?

VIFL Activation Type Virginia is for Lovers banner on-site Virginia is for Lovers merchandise for sale on-site Signed up for PR Leads VTC Photography/Videography opportunity Press pass to event/concert/festival Other Beyond the required usage of the Virginia is for Lovers logo, how will you integrate the Virginia is for Lovers brand in your marketing and advertising materials?

VIFL Activation Type Virginia is for Lovers banner on-site Virginia is for Lovers merchandise for sale on-site Signed up for PR Leads VTC Photography/Videography opportunity Press pass to event/concert/festival Other Beyond the required usage of the Virginia is for Lovers logo, how will you integrate the Virginia is for Lovers brand in your marketing and advertising materials?

VIFL Activation Type Virginia is for Lovers banner on-site Virginia is for Lovers merchandise for sale on-site Signed up for PR Leads VTC Photography/Videography opportunity Press pass to event/concert/festival Other Beyond the required usage of the Virginia is for Lovers logo, how will you integrate the Virginia is for Lovers brand in your marketing and advertising materials?

VIFL Activation Type Virginia is for Lovers banner on-site Virginia is for Lovers merchandise for sale on-site Signed up for PR Leads VTC Photography/Videography opportunity Press pass to event/concert/festival Other Beyond the required usage of the Virginia is for Lovers logo, how will you integrate the Virginia is for Lovers brand in your marketing and advertising materials?

Please upload a letter of support from the local or regional DMO. If there is not a DMO that support the event location, please upload a letter of support from the locality. * You can find your DMO contact information at https://vatc.

org/dmolistpdf. Please allow your DMO ample lead time to provide the letter of support. If the applicant is the DMO, please upload a letter to that effect.

Lodging Partner Letter of Support * Max. file size: 50 MB. Your application information is saved on our server as you enter it.

If you need to leave the application, scroll to the bottom of the application and click “Save and Continue Later”. You will receive a unique URL that will allow you to go back into the application to make edits. BE SURE TO COPY THIS URL SO THAT YOU CAN GO BACK TO EDIT YOUR APPLICATION!

You also can enter your email address and have the link sent to you. You will need to follow this procedure each time you leave the application in order to save your work. Once you are ready to submit the Final Version , you will acknowledge the Acceptance of Terms.

A SUBMIT button will appear At that point you may submit your application. Please note that once you submit, you will NOT be able to make any revisions to your application. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 15 minutes, please reach out to us.

Applications are due by 5:00 PM on Thursday, July 30, 2026. NO extensions to this deadline will be possible. Award announcements will be made October 2026.

Acceptance of Terms * I understand that by submitting this application that I am agreeing to the full program Terms and Conditions. I have read and agree to the terms and conditions. Submission Confirmation * I understand that my application is not fully submitted until I see the final submission screen and receive a .

pdf of my application in my inbox (usually within 15 minutes.) I will contact VTC at vtcmlpgrant@virginia. org within 24 hours if I do not receive the pdf of my application in my email inbox.

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