Spring 2026 VA250 Tourism Marketing Program - Virginia Tourism Corporation

Maximum Award: $10,000

Opens: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 9 a.m.

Closes: Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Who’s Eligible: Official VA250 Committees, Historic Sites, and Museums

The VA250 Commission was created by the General Assembly to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

The purpose of the VA250 Tourism Marketing Program – administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) – is to assist Virginia communities and related sites to market commemorative events, locations, and destinations related to 250 years of American democracy, including themes related to history, freedom, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The purpose of this grant round is to encourage visitation to Virginia on July 4, 2026, through destination marketing, and encourage localities, historic sites, and museums to stream the “America Made in Virginia 250 Years Together” events from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026 live from Colonial Williamsburg. The VA250 Commission owns streaming rights to the broadcast which will be on local and regional PBS stations across Virginia and is encouraging, via this grant round, livestreaming across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VA250 Commission will provide information on accessing the stream. In most areas, the livestream will be on the regional or local PBS station.

250 Years Together

Participation in the livestream opportunity is optional. Applicants can apply solely for marketing funding. However, applicants that indicate and embrace the livestreaming opportunity will earn 15 bonus points in the application. To further support the livestreaming opportunity, applicants that do indicate they will livestream the event will be able to use up to $5,000 of their award to support livestreaming including the purchase or rental of screens, projectors, AV services, and chairs.

Please note that interpretive signage is not eligible in this specific VA250 round.

The marketing objectives can be accomplished through actions including the following:

Encouraging and stimulating investment by combined efforts of local, regional, and statewide entities for Virginia 250 cultural marketing initiatives
Marketing Virginia as a year-round travel destination for individuals and groups
Marketing the historical and cultural attractions of Virginia to international travelers and out-of-state visitors

Proposed events or projects must support and further the Commission’s established programs, commemoration themes, and goals which can be found in the VA250 Commission’s America: Made in Virginia Toolkit at www.va250.org.

Spring 2026 VA250 Tourism Marketing Program Grant Application

Once you submit your final application, if you do not receive your confirmation email and PDF within 15 minutes, please contact Stephanie Kenney at skenney@virginia.org.

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Grant ID#
Applicant Information
Organization Name*
EIN #*
Applicant Street Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Attach a letter of support from your official VA250 committee.*
Word docs and PDFs are the only allowed attachments
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Attach a copy of your locality's official VA250 resolution*
Word docs and PDFs are the only allowed attachments
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Contact Name*
First Last
Contact Email*
Contact Mailing Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Contact Phone Number*
How much funding are you requesting?*
Program Focus (20 Points)
Program Name
Program Description
Program Start Date – Not before March 1, 2026*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Program End Date – Not after April 30, 2027*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Program Goals
How does this program inform the visitor about America's history, stories, or cultures and support the mission of the VA250 Commission?
What are the positive lasting legacies of this project?
Partnerships (20 Points)
If your destination, historic site, or museum is the hub, what other businesses or attractions will folks visit. Who can you partner with on marketing? These are your spokes.
How will you partner with tourism businesses to market this program and increase overnight visitation?*
DMO Name*
DMO Contact Name*
First Last
DMO Contact Email*
DMO Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
DMO Letter of Support*
Word docs and PDFs are the only allowed attachments
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Partner #1 Organization Name*
Partner #1 Financial Commitment (min. $250)*
Partner #1 Contact Name*
First Last
Partner #1 Contact Email*
Partner #1 Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
Partner #1 Letter of Support*
Word docs and PDFs are the only allowed attachments
Max. file size: 50 MB.
How does Partner #1 support your program?
Partner #2 Organization Name*
Partner #2 Financial Commitment (min. $250)*
Partner #2 Contact Name*
First Last
Partner #2 Contact Email*
Partner #2 Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
Partner #2 Letter of Support*
Word docs and PDFs are the only allowed attachments
Max. file size: 50 MB.
How does Partner #2 support your program?
In-Kind/Cash Match Marketing Plan (20 Points)
This is your match. This grant requires a 1:1 cash match for most applicants. Be sure to read instructions on eligible items. Only eligible items may count as match. The lookback period date for eligible expenses in this program is March 1, 2026. Only localities in federally designated Economic Development Districts can provide in-kind match. A list of EDDs can be found at:” https://www.eda.gov/about/economic-development-glossary/edd
Select Media Type*
Placement Dates (Month/Year)*
Amount/Value*
Description (type, demographics, reach)*
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount/Value
Description (type, demographics, reach)
Cash Match Marketing Plan Grand Total*
Marketing Plan (20 Points)
This is what you would like be reimbursed by VTC. Be sure to review the eligible expenses list. Ineligible items will not be reimbursed. The lookback period date for eligible expenses in this program is March 1, 20265. This is what you would like be reimbursed by VTC. Be sure to review the eligible expenses list. Ineligible items will not be reimbursed. The lookback period date for eligible expenses in this program is March 1, 2026.
Will you be activating the “America Made in Virginia 250 Years Together” opportunity to livestream events from 8 p.m. to 10 p .m. on July 4, 2026?*
- Yes
- No
If you answered yes to the above question, you may include up to $5,000 in your reimbursable marketing plan for projector, screen, and chair rental or purchase. Those are the only equipment expenses eligible in this program. Only those applicants activating the streaming opportunity may include equipment expenses in their marketing plan.
Select Media Type*
Placement Dates (Month/Year)*
Amount*
Media Description*
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Select Media Type
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Equipment/AV Services
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Equipment/AV Services
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Equipment/AV Services
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Equipment/AV Services
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Equipment/AV Services
Placement Dates (Month/Year)
Amount
Media Description
(type of ad, target market, demographics, or equipment/AV services)
Grand Total Marketing Plan*
Performance Measures (20 Points)
Performance Outcome #1*
Select Outcomes from Drop Down Box
Performance Baseline (Now)*
Performance Goal*
Performance Outcome #2*
Select Outcomes from Drop Down Box
Performance Baseline (Now)*
Performance Goal*
Performance Outcome #3*
Select Outcomes from Drop Down Box
Performance Baseline (Now)*
Performance Goal*
What is the sustainability plan to continue this project after the funding cycle?
What is the plan for implementing this project if funding is not fully awarded?
Bonus – VIFL Activation (15 Bonus Points)
How will you activate the America Made in Virginia 250 Years Together” opportunity to livestream events from 8 p.m. to 10 p .m. on July 4, 2026?
Activation Details
Save and Submit
VERY IMPORTANT:
- Your application information is saved on our server as you enter it.
- If you need to leave the application, scroll to the bottom of the application and click “Save and Continue Later”.
- You will receive a unique URL that will allow you to go back into the application to make edits. BE SURE TO COPY THIS URL SO THAT YOU CAN GO BACK TO EDIT YOUR APPLICATION!
- You also can enter your email address and have the link sent to you.
- You will need to follow this procedure each time you leave the application in order to save your work.
Once you are ready to submit the Final Version, you will acknowledge the Acceptance of Terms.
- A SUBMIT button will appear
- At that point you may submit your application.
- Please note that once you submit, you will NOT be able to make any revisions to your application.
DEADLINE INFORMATION:
- Applications are due by 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
- NO extensions to this deadline will be possible.
- Award announcements will be made by June 10, 2026.
Acceptance of Terms*
By clicking this checkbox and submitting this form, you are confirming that all information is final.
I have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the VA250 Tourism Marketing Program. I understand that failure to meet the requirements in the Terms and Conditions could result in forfeiture of the award and denial of reimbursements.
Section Break

Maximum Award: $10,000

Opens: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 9 a.m.

Closes: Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Who’s Eligible: Official VA250 Committees, Historic Sites, and Museums

Spring 2026 VA250 Tourism Marketing Program Grant Application

Applicant Information

Program Focus (20 Points)

Partnerships (20 Points)

In-Kind/Cash Match Marketing Plan (20 Points)

Marketing Plan (20 Points)

Performance Measures (20 Points)

Bonus – VIFL Activation (15 Bonus Points)

Save and Submit

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