FY 2027 Tourism Marketing Grant

About the Program:

The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Tourism Division, VisitMartinsville, is offering a marketing co-op grant designed to assist the local tourism industry with marketing needs. Local tourism related businesses which contribute to the local tax base (Martinsville or Henry County) directly or indirectly are encouraged to apply:

Hotels
Campgrounds
B&Bs/Inns
Restaurants/Cafés
Attractions
Locally Owned & Operated Retailer
Spas
Established Events

The program’s intent is to assist businesses in the Martinsville-Henry County tourism industry with the funding of professional marketing services, including the creation and placement of collateral materials. Successful efforts will aid in the stability and growth of these businesses, potentially increasing tax revenue and jobs within Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia.

Awards may be up to $1,000 per business. However, no award shall exceed 80% of the total marketing project. A marketing plan will be required in addition to an application, and awardees must use local service providers when applicable. The grant application process will remain open through May 1, 2027, or while funds are available.

For more information, contact Kelly Rowland, Director of Tourism, krowland@yesmartinsville.com

Marketing Co-op Grant Program Amounts:

Eligibility is determined at the discretion of VisitMartinsville
Awards may not exceed $1,000
Only one award may be granted to a business per grant cycle and cannot be used for the same project as a previous cycle
Grant amounts shall not exceed 80% of total project cost or the allowable grant, whichever is less

Approval Criteria:

Must be a tourism related business or organization currently licensed in and with its principal office located within the City of Martinsville or Henry County, VA.
VisitMartinsville must approve marketing service providers used; all providers will be local businesses. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
Grant funds cannot be awarded for a project which has been initiated prior to the approval of application.
Grants are to be used for the creation or enhancement of marketing collateral and cannot be used for marketing consulting, domain registration, website hosting, general maintenance services or annual subscriptions.
Grants may not be used to create websites for multi-level marketing (MLM) or pyramid selling.
Grant funds may not be used to fund projects which are also funded by other EDC grant programs.
When applicable, applicant will be required to provide analytical data on the success of their project upon its completion. Failure to do so may disqualify you from future grant programs.
Advertising / Marketing material(s) must be displayed / distributed outside of the Martinsville – Henry County area or be a driver in gaining of visitation.
When applicable, use of VisitMartinsville logo or branding must be included in advertising and collateral. VisitMartinsville must approve of placement before publishing.

Approved Grant Uses:

Web Design and Development Services

Custom website design
Content management solutions
E-Commerce Services – ex. shopping carts, donation and membership systems
Internet Marketing Services – ex. search engine optimization, e-Newsletters, blogs
Other website services as approved at the discretion of VisitMartinsville
Websites should link back to www.VisitMartinsville.com

Other Marketing Services

Graphic design services and/or printing
Print ad placement
Development, videography and placement for television commercials
Radio advertisement development and media placement
Photography services essential to marketing collateral
Roadside business signage

Grant Application Process:

Applicant completes application.
An e-mail will be sent to applicant verifying the receipt of a complete application package or notification of an incomplete application package.
Application is reviewed and is approved or denied by the VisitMartinsville, in its sole discretion. An e-mail will be sent to applicant informing it of the decision and, if approved, will provide notice of the amount of grant funding it is eligible to receive.
Applicant must obtain a contract with the service provider setting the scope of the services to be provided by the service provider. The contract must be approved by VisitMartinsville and will become part of the Grant Agreement between the applicant and VisitMartinsville.
VisitMartinsville reserves the right to publicize provider and award winner’s name, website and photograph to promote program success.

The following documents must be submitted with the application:

Copy of current business license for Martinsville or Henry County.
Detailed copy of quote(s) from local marketing provider(s) including project timeline and any applicable supplemental material for consideration.

Question Title

1. Legal Business Name (Required.)

Question Title

2. Federal EIN (Required.)

Question Title

3. Point of Contact for Business (Required.)

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Question Title

4. Business Physical Address (Required.)

Question Title

5. Business Mailing Address, if different from physical address.

Question Title

6. Type of Business: (Required.)

Hotel

Campground

B&B/Inn

Restaurant/Cafe

Attraction

Locally Owned & Operated Retailer

Spa

Established Event

Other (please specify)

Question Title

7. Website: (Required.)

Question Title

8. Year Business Established: (Required.)

Question Title

9. Number of Employees (please list FT & PT): (Required.)

Full Time

Part Time

Question Title

10. Where is the primary location for the business listed on this application? (Required.)

City of Martinsville

Henry County

Other (please specify)

Question Title

11. Give a brief summary of your Marketing Project/Campaign. (Required.)

Question Title

12. What amount you are requesting from the Tourism Marketing Co-op Grant? (Required.)

Question Title

13. How will these funds be used? (Be specific including size, frequency, qty, location, etc.) (Required.)

Question Title

14. Please outline the request in detail with the information below. (Required.)

Marketing Plan Item

Description of Marketing Plan Item

Date of Placement or Activity (Month/Year)

Budgeted Amount

Question Title

15. Use this space for additional marketing plan items.

Marketing Plan Item

Description of Marketing Plan Item

Date of Placement or Activity (Month/Year)

Budgeted Amount

Question Title

16. How do you plan to track the success of your project or campaign? (Required.)

Question Title

17. Have you received Marketing Grant Co-op Funds from VisitMartinsville in the past? (Required.)

Yes

FY 2027 Tourism Marketing Grant

Question Title

* 1. Legal Business Name (Required.)

Question Title

* 2. Federal EIN (Required.)

Question Title

* 3. Point of Contact for Business (Required.)

Question Title

* 4. Business Physical Address (Required.)

Question Title

* 5. Business Mailing Address, if different from physical address.

Question Title

* 6. Type of Business: (Required.)

Question Title

* 7. Website: (Required.)

Question Title

* 8. Year Business Established: (Required.)

Question Title

* 9. Number of Employees (please list FT & PT): (Required.)

Question Title

* 10. Where is the primary location for the business listed on this application? (Required.)

Question Title

* 11. Give a brief summary of your Marketing Project/Campaign. (Required.)

Question Title

* 12. What amount you are requesting from the Tourism Marketing Co-op Grant? (Required.)

Question Title

* 13. How will these funds be used? (Be specific including size, frequency, qty, location, etc.) (Required.)

Question Title

* 14. Please outline the request in detail with the information below. (Required.)

Question Title

* 15. Use this space for additional marketing plan items.

Question Title

* 16. How do you plan to track the success of your project or campaign? (Required.)

Question Title

* 17. Have you received Marketing Grant Co-op Funds from VisitMartinsville in the past? (Required.)

Question Title

* 18. If yes, how much? What was the project and when did you complete it? (Required.)

1. Legal Business Name (Required.)

2. Federal EIN (Required.)

3. Point of Contact for Business (Required.)

4. Business Physical Address (Required.)

5. Business Mailing Address, if different from physical address.

6. Type of Business: (Required.)

7. Website: (Required.)

8. Year Business Established: (Required.)

9. Number of Employees (please list FT & PT): (Required.)

10. Where is the primary location for the business listed on this application? (Required.)

11. Give a brief summary of your Marketing Project/Campaign. (Required.)

12. What amount you are requesting from the Tourism Marketing Co-op Grant? (Required.)

13. How will these funds be used? (Be specific including size, frequency, qty, location, etc.) (Required.)

14. Please outline the request in detail with the information below. (Required.)

15. Use this space for additional marketing plan items.

16. How do you plan to track the success of your project or campaign? (Required.)

17. Have you received Marketing Grant Co-op Funds from VisitMartinsville in the past? (Required.)

18. If yes, how much? What was the project and when did you complete it? (Required.)