SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) has awarded 68 grants totaling more than $365,000 to help rural communities promote attractions that draw visitors and generate revenue for local economies.
“While the tourist attractions in our larger cities are certainly well known, our rural communities have many special treasures awaiting the visitors who travel across our state,” Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki, NCOT chair, said. “The Rural Grant Program gives us a unique opportunity to showcase our rural attractions and NCOT is proud to play a part in that.”
NCOT awards grants twice a year to public entities such as visitor authorities, cities and chambers of commerce, and each grant must be matched in value with local funds or labor.
Examples of grants include:
- $8,000 for the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority for its Tractors & Truffles event, an upscale food and arts event that capitalizes on the trend toward showcasing locally grown food, healthy eating, agricultural tourism and the arts and culture of rural Nevada.
- $10,000 for the Virginia City Convention and Visitors Authority to conduct a media familiarization tour jointly with Elko and Ely. The tour will present the “Wild West” side of Nevada that extends beyond a single city or county.
- $7,000 for the City of Carlin to purchase radio and television advertising in Reno, Idaho and Utah to promote its annual Carlin Car Show. Attendance to last year’s show exceeded 1,000 car enthusiasts and is expected to grow with increased advertising.
- $5,000 for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California to promote its annual Wa She Shu It Deh Festival. The grant will pay for posters and print advertising in Nevada, California, Idaho, Utah, Oregon and Arizona.
- $6,000 for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to redesign and maintain the Pyramid Lake Web site.
“Grant recipients must match the funds either monetarily or in kind, and that guarantees an excellent commitment by the recipients to make the most of the money they receive,” NCOT Director Dann Lewis said. “We have a very dedicated network of tourism partners throughout the state, and they often donate their own time and money to improve the visitors’ experiences in their communities. The Rural Grants Program helps alleviate some of the burden, and in many cases, enables essential events and programs to continue.”
Requests for grants are meticulously reviewed by NCOT staff and an advisory board before being approved by the commission. This round of grants was approved at the December commission meeting. For more information on NCOT and the grant program, visit www.TravelNevada.biz.
