FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Stefanie Harper
Georgia Department of Economic Development
404-962-4075
sharper@georgia.org
Georgia Tourism
awards funding to 16 tourism projects
Grant program provides
financial support for new and expanding tourism projects
ATLANTA, September 11, 2018 – The Georgia Department
of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Tourism division announced today that it has
awarded $116,744 in product development grants to 16 new and expanding tourism
projects across the state.
“We are thrilled to announce this new round of funding
for communities that have participated in our Tourism Product Development
Resource Team program,” said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner of Tourism for
the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “The grant recipients reflect a
variety of exciting and creative tourism projects that will attract and serve
visitors throughout the state.”
Since its inception, Georgia Tourism’s Product Development
team has served 60 counties, cities, private for-profits and non-profits
throughout the state in areas ranging from agritourism to downtown development.
“Funding is one of the greatest needs in fortifying tourism
product development,” said Cindy Eidson, Director of Tourism Product
Development for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “By making
grants available to support projects that our Resource Teams help inspire, we are
investing in the growth of tourism and jobs in communities across the state.”
Recipients of the Cycle I 2018 Tourism Product Development Resource
Team Grant Funding Program include:
·
Athens Downtown Development Authority—Wild
Rumpus Parade & Spectacle
·
Brooks County Development Authority—A Camellia
City Festival: Winter in the Garden Event
·
Chattooga County—Paradise Gardens Foundation Air
BnB
·
City of Cuthbert—The Magic of Murals
·
City of Darien—Kumbaya Book and Marketing
Materials
·
City of Kingston—The City of Kingston Heritage
Tourism Project
·
City of Stockbridge—Green Front Café
Identification Project
·
City of Toccoa—Downtown Wayfinding Signage:
Phase II
·
Dublin Downtown Development Authority—Telfair
Street Building Renovation (Gallery, DIY Painting Event Space & Youth Arts
Outreach Program)
·
Eatonton Putnam Downtown Development
Authority—Briar Patch Pocket Parks Phase 3
·
Liberty County Development Authority—Dorchester
Kiosks – telling MLK, Jr.’s connection to Dorchester
·
Pike County Board of Commissioners—Pike County
Map
·
Sandersville School Building Authority—Fall
Movie Series
·
Senoia Downtown Development Authority—Senoia
Tourism Branding Initiative
·
Washington County Board of Commissioners—Chamber
of Commerce Visitors Center Improvements
·
White County Board of Commissioners—Yonah
Preserve Trails
The Georgia
Tourism review panel consists of members from the public and private sector as
well as fellow professionals who are experienced in the tourism industry or the
type of grant being reviewed.
About GDEcD
The Georgia
Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing
arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the
expansion of existing industry and small businesses, aligning workforce
education and training with in-demand jobs, locating new markets for Georgia
products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a
destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment
projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic
development. www.georgia.org
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