Guild members accept a check from the Greenbrier County CVB as they prepare more than 50 quilts for display at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center. The quilts will be on display during the month of March, National Quilt Month.
Funds totaling $15,500 were recently awarded to 13 Greenbrier County organizations for tourism marketing through the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Cooperative Advertising Grant Program.
Each year, the CVB sets aside a portion of its budget to assist local organizations with their tourism marketing efforts. A requirement of the applicant’s marketing plan must be to reach visitors outside of a 50-mile radius, with a focus on getting event attendees to spend the night. Groups, including two or more businesses, organizations and nonprofits operating in Greenbrier County may apply for funding.
One such recipient of this year’s funding is the Alderson Quilters and Crafters Guild for the promotion of their Greenbrier Valley Quilt Retreat scheduled for Apr. 24-27 at the Alderson Community Center. The event will feature international guest speaker, Jinny Beyer, as well as a variety of classes and workshops. With CVB grant dollars supporting the Guild’s brochures and advertising efforts, event coordinators are anticipating 200 attendees.
Since July of 2002, the Greenbrier County CVB has reached a pinnacle in helping groups and organizations market their events. Since that time, the CVB has funded more than $348,000 in direct marketing grants to many of the county’s fairs, festivals and non-profit organizations.
Applications for the CVB’s mini grants are reviewed by the organization’s Grants and Research Committee twice each year, in January and July. Requests can be made up to $2,000. The next deadline is Tuesday, July 8.
The recipients from the January application period include: Alderson 4th of July Committee, Alderson Quilters and Crafters, Carnegie Hall, Friends of the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery, Greenbrier Group to Fight Pancreatic Cancer, Greenbrier Historical Society, Greenbrier Valley Bicycle Club, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lewisburg Downtown Business Association, Lewisburg House and Garden Tour, Lewisburg Literary Group, Ronceverte River Festival and the State Fair of WV.
For more information about the CVB’s Cooperative Advertising Grant Program, visit www.greenbrierwv.com or call 304-645-1000. The Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center is located at 200 West Washington Street, Lewisburg.