The Danville Office of Economic Development & Tourism has received a $10,000 grant to go toward highlighting the Dan River Region’s role in the nation’s founding.
The money from the VA250 Commission and Virginia Tourism Corp.’s Tourism Marketing Program will be used to create historical marker signs and fund upcoming historical events in Danville and Pittsylvania County, according to a news release from the city’s office of economic development and tourism.
The local VA250 Committee was formed by the office and includes members from local historical chapters, museums and libraries.
“This grant will be greatly helpful as our community prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the critical events in the founding of our nation,” Bill Guerrant, president of the Pittsylvania Historical Society, said in a prepared statement.
Danville was one of nine localities to receive a part of $74,600 awarded by Virginia Tourism. The funding will affect 36 combined partners in an effort to celebrate and commemorate Virginia’s role during the American Revolution.
“This grant will help engage and educate residents and visitors about the role Pittsylvania County and Danville played during the American Revolution and Revolutionary War,” Sonja Ingram, chief operating officer at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, said in a prepared statement.
Virginia Tourism’s VA250 Tourism Marketing Program is designed to increase visitation by using limited marketing dollars, stimulating new tourism marketing through partnerships and extending the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand, according to the news release.
The program is a partnership between the VA250 Commission and Virginia Tourism and is designed to support, promote and market programming, events and interpretive signs related to quests for freedom against the backdrop of America’s 250th commemoration, according to the news release.
“America’s history is Virginia’s story and localities are encouraged to use these funds to tell diverse and unique stories about history, people and culture,” the news release states.
Grant programs will open twice annually to help localities, museums, and historic sites market programming and develop exhibits.
“The VA250 Tourism Marketing Program is part of VTC’s strategy to grow year-round visitation in Virginia and is designed to support local VA250 committees with marketing dollars,” Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism, said in a prepared statement. “These funds are crucial to driving visitation to and celebrating the commonwealth’s history.”
Original Article Here (by staff reports, Danville Register & Bee)