The Virginia Tourism Corporation announced that Halifax County Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Prizery and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center,  has been awarded $10,000 through the state’s Virginia is for Lovers Marketing Leverage Grant Program for their Halifax County: Your Meeting Destination marketing campaign.

In total, Virginia Tourism Corporation awards approximately $1 million annually - matched and leveraged on average three to one by partner dollars - to more than 80 communities across the commonwealth. “These grants help enable local tourism partners undertake projects that might otherwise be beyond their fiscal reach, “said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “I see our Marketing Leverage Grants program as something that creates opportunity and breeds the kind of success that can only be achieved by people working together.”

 “This campaign will bring an increased awareness to meeting planners throughout Virginia and North Carolina that everything a planner might need for a meeting can be found right here in Halifax County” said Linda Shepperd, Director for the Department of Tourism.  “The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and the Prizery have fantastic facilities and amenities that fit very nicely with meetings. Both institutions have hosted several day meetings and our goal is to go after meetings that involve an overnight stay.” Shepperd continued, “This effort will not only benefit these partners, but to have successful meetings you need accommodations and catering services.  The community will also benefit from increased spending and tax revenues. A win-win situation."

“We are really excited that we’ll be working with the Halifax County Department of Tourism and the Prizery to bring more people to Halifax County,” said Patty Nelson, SVHEC Chief Financial & Operating Officer. “The SVHEC has sophisticated technology, classrooms for breakout sessions, and a new 80 seat auditorium in the SVHEC-Innovation Center. The Prizery has a 260-seat auditorium and a 400-seat banquet hall. We believe marketing both facilities in a coordinated effort is a good way to enhance use of both the SVHEC and the Prizery,” Nelson continued.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) marketing leverage program helps stimulate new tourism spending through regional and local partnership marketing initiatives.  These partnerships leverage funds to enable destinations to market in venues they would otherwise not be able to afford.  Applicants must consist of at least three Virginia partners and present a proposal for an initiative that meets a stringent set of requirements.  South Boston-Halifax County Tourism office served as the lead entity for the project, in a partnership that included Tourism, The Prizery and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.