Rockingham County Tourism Development Authority awards grant funds

For the first time in six years, the Tourism Development Authority awarded marketing and promotional grants Thursday without supplementing the agency’s budgeted amount from the fund balance.

TDA approved a total of $39,779 in grants to various organizations around the county to help market events in 2008 and 2009. At the agency’s March meeting, the board approved a change for the new 2008-09 budget that increased the previous $25,000 grant fund to $40,000.

“This was a great move by our board, because there are some excellent events planned that will draw a good number of overnight visitors into the county,” said Robin Yount, vice president of tourism for the Rockingham County Partnership. “The increase allows us to stay on budget while still supporting a variety of organizations throughout the county.”

Yount said TDA gave out almost $40,000 each year for the past five years, although the budget only allowed $25,000.

“It really didn’t make much sense to keep it that low if we’re consistently giving that much more each year,” she said.

A stipulation of the new grant allowance was to stay within the budgeted amount.

“We plan to stay within that figure,” said TDA chairman Fletcher Waynick.

The grant program awards funds to projects that attract visitors to the county, with emphasis on events that place people overnight in local motels and inns. Organizations around the county apply for the funds based on marketing costs to advertise the events outside the county to draw in out-of-town visitors.

TDA received requests totaling more than $51,000 for this year’s grant cycle and trimmed their approvals to just under the agency’s $40,000 cap.

Among organizations receiving awards this year were the Eden YMCA, Morehead High School Wrestling Boosters, City of Reidsville, Madison-Mayodan Recreation Department, City of Eden, Stoneville Rotary Club and the Reidsville Downtown Corp.

News editor Steve Lawson can be reached at or at 548-6047.

By the numbers

TDA Marketing and Promotional Grants for 2008-09:

$5,565, Reidsville Downtown Corp. for Reidsville Downtown Fall Festival (formerly Antique Alley Festival)

$5,000, Morehead High School Wrestling Boosters for East Coast Challenge

$4,000, Eden YMCA for 2009 tennis tournaments

$3,500, Eden YMCA for swimming meets (two events)

$3,135, city of Reidsville for The Penn House

$3,000, Reidsville Downtown Corp. for 2008 Reidsville Downtown Cruise Ins

$3,000, Morehead High School Wrestling Boosters for Eden Holiday Classic

$2,397, Madison-Mayodan Recreation Department for Dan River Boat Race

$2,000, Olde Leaksville Shopping District for 2008 Eden Riverfest

$2,000, city of Reidsville for Lake Reidsville

$1,500, city of Eden for seventh annual Piedmont Pottery Festival

$1,500, Morehead High School Wrestling Boosters for Mid-East 3A Regional Tournament

$1,200, Fine Arts Festival of Rockingham County for First Friday gallery openings and Fine Arts Festival

$1,000, Morehead High School Wrestling Boosters for Sarah Wilkes Invitational Tournament

$982, Stoneville Rotary Club for Stoneville Fall Festival