Travel Nevada awards tourism grants

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Commission on Tourism this week approved $1.65 million in COVID-19 grants to Nevada tourism agencies. NCOT also approved $45,000 in grant funding for a separate program, the Volunteer Impact Program.

Both grant programs were made possible through Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The state’s tourism division will administer the programs.

Projects funded through the COVID-19 Rural Recovery Grant Program:

• A $15,000 grant was awarded to Cowboy Country, a regional tourism marketing organization in northern Nevada, for digital billboards in Reno-Sparks to showcase that its towns and communities are practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

• The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce received $7,500 to run a commercial campaign on KLAS-TV, the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas, to promote the fact that the community’s businesses are working to keep guests safe and healthy.

• A $19,000 award was granted to Nevada Silver Trails, a regional tourism marketing organization in south-central Nevada to execute a social media campaign that will feature destinations, attractions and events where practices are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• The Churchill Arts Council in Fallon received $16,650 to pay for still photography and long- and short-form videos that will demonstrate visitors enjoying the facility while practicing social distancing.

• A $2,000 grant was given to the Carson City Symphony Association to promote and live-stream a holiday music concert. The Dec. 13 event will mark the organization’s first live performance event after a hiatus of several months.

The Volunteer Impact Program is designed, in part, to support rural tourism with infrastructure projects. Grants through this program will fund projects that ensure social distancing and/or promote safety messaging. A total of $44,921 in grants was awarded to six agencies. Among the projects:

• An $8,000 award was given to the town of Pahrump for a mural project in the community’s Petrack Park that will feature “safe and open” messaging.

• The Austin Historical Society was granted $6,000 to replace old signage at the Austin Museum. The updated signage will include “open and safe” messaging.

SOURCE: NCOT