Tag Archive for: #warrencountytourism

Warren County Announces Mini-Grant Program To Boost Visitors, Tourism

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The Warren County Tourism Development Authority is launching a mini-grant program to support events, marketing initiatives and tourism-related projects that bring visitors into Warren County and encourage overnight stays.

The Tourism Promotion Mini-Grant Program, funded through occupancy tax revenues, ensures that tourism dollars are reinvested directly into the community to stimulate economic activity, support local businesses, and strengthen the overall visitor experience, according to information from Warren Tourism Manager Cherie Nielsen.

Due to the timing of the program’s rollout during the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year, funding will be awarded beginning July 1, 2026. The WCTDA will roll forward $25,000 originally budgeted for the program, resulting in a total of $50,000 in available funding for the upcoming grant cycle.

The mini-grant program will operate through a competitive application process open to nonprofits, municipalities, businesses and community groups. Eligible projects may include festivals, cultural events, marketing campaigns and tourism experiences designed to attract visitors to Warren County.

Neilsen said, “We’re excited to open this opportunity to our community. We know there are great ideas out there, and this program is designed to help bring those ideas to life. This is about creating opportunity, supporting our local economy, and giving people a reason to come to Warren County and stay awhile.”

The initiative supports Warren County’s tourism vision to invite visitors to “Step In. Stay Awhile.”

“This program is an investment in Warren County’s future,” Nielsen added. “Tourism is one of the few ways we can bring new dollars into our community, and this gives us a structured way to support the people and projects that make that happen.”

The application period is expected to open in the coming months. Completed applications will be reviewed and scored by the WCTDA Product Development and Grants Committee, with final funding decisions approved by the WCTDA Board to ensure a transparent and accountable process.

A grant application workshop will be offered to assist applicants through the process. Attendance at the workshop will be required for all first-time applicants, with the exception of municipalities.

To maintain fiscal responsibility, the program is reimbursement-based. Grant recipients must complete their projects, submit documentation of expenses, and provide a final report demonstrating attendance, visitor reach, and overall impact before funds are distributed. All funded projects must be completed by May 31, 2027 to align with County financial policies.

For more information about the WCTDA Tourism Promotion Mini-Grant Program, please contact:

Cherie Nielsen
Tourism Manager
Warren County Tourism Development Authority
CherieNielsen@WarrenCountyNC.gov | 252.213.7356

 

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Warren County Tops State in 2019 Tourism Expenditures Growth

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Domestic visitors to and within Warren County spent $31 million in 2019, an increase of 16.6% from 2018 ($26.65 million); this growth rate is the highest the county has seen going all the way back to 1990. This growth was the highest increase seen in all 100 counties in North Carolina from 2018 to 2019.

The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“We, as residents, know that Warren County is a special place; it’s great to see that being recognized by visitors as well,” said Charla Duncan, Economic Development Director (Interim). “It’s encouraging to know that our existing businesses are feeling a positive impact from our tourism draw, and we hope that potential businesses can look at this growth and see the value of operating in Warren County.”

2019 state tax revenue generated in Warren County totaled $1.13 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $2.75 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses. This translates into about $194 in tax savings per resident in Warren County.

Visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2019. The $26.7 billion in total spending represented an increase of 5.6 percent from 2018.

These statistics are from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2019,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.

“The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry as an anchor of economic development,” said Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina. “As the No. 6 state in the country for overnight visitation, we can attribute our success to the natural beauty and authenticity that visitors experience, and to a passionate effort to inform and inspire travelers. The money they spend benefits everyone by sustaining jobs and reducing our residents’ tax burden.”

 Statewide highlights include:

  • State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending rose 5.0 percent to more than $1.3 billion in 2019.
  • Visitors spend more than $73 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $5.92 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $2.2 million in local taxes).
  • The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 235,000 North Carolinians.
  • Each North Carolina household saves on average $551 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.