FloydFest receives festival funds
The Floyd Living Traditions Festival at the Floyd Center for the Arts on Saturday features music both outside and in the dairy barn, demonstrations, exhibits and presentations.
Stilt walkers costumes flow in the breeze for FloydFest ‘22~Heartbeat.
The grounds of FloydFest Heartbeat seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A large crowd listens to Dogs In A Pile perform at the Streamline Stage at Hill Holler at FloydFest '22~Heartbeat Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Patrick County.
Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that $885,733 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 88 special events and festivals as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program (SEF) to drive overnight visitation and traveler spending across the Commonwealth in 2026.
“Special events and festivals play a vital role in Virginia’s long-term growth by strengthening our visitor economy, celebrating our communities, and bringing people together across the Commonwealth,” said Youngkin. “By pairing state resources with private investment, we are helping signature events expand, drive overnight visitation, support jobs, and showcase everything that makes Virginia a premier destination—from our vibrant arts and music scene to our agritourism, history, and outdoor experiences.”
This funding program leverages local marketing and event production dollars with matching state funds to increase overnight visitation, enhance the visitor experience, and grow traveler spending at special events and festivals statewide. In this funding cycle, local partners will commit more than $4.8 million in public-private funds to match VTC funding, generating more than $5.68 million in new marketing and event production activity focused on increasing overnight visitation to Virginia in 2026. In total, the awards will support 88 special events and festivals and impact 526 tourism-related partners statewide.
The VTC Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program is designed to increase visitor spending by maximizing limited marketing and event production dollars to stimulate overnight visitation through new tourism marketing and event expansion partnerships. The program also extends the iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand to drive special event and festival visitation. Each GO Virginia region is allocated 20 percent of available funds, creating a diverse portfolio of supported events across the Commonwealth.
Using the hub-and-spoke tourism model to create multi-day itineraries, four Virginia entities partner financially to apply for funding. Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, counties, destination marketing organizations, restaurants, museums, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses. With the special event or festival as the main lure, the program encourages visitors to extend their stays to experience Virginia Main Streets, boutique shopping, distinctive dining, and historic sites, generating significant economic impact beyond the event itself. These partnerships have proven results in driving creativity among applicants and attracting new visitors to a destination.
The Floyd Center for the Arts received $5,000 for its Living Traditions Festival. Across-the-Way Productions received $20,000 for FloydFest.
Floyd nets Tobacco Commission grant
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission on Jan. 12 recommended a $500,000 grant for the Economic Development Authority of Floyd County during its first scheduled meeting of the year.
The funding for the EDA would be earmarked for developing a business ready site at the Floyd Regional Commerce Center.
This award will support contractual services and property improvements to develop 20–24 acres of business-ready sites in Floyd County as part of Phase II of the Floyd Regional Commerce Center. Project activities include the installation of a second public water line to provide redundancy and connect a potential new PSA well, as well as the installation of conduit for 3-phase power. The award will be submitted in support of Floyd County’s efforts to secure funding from the U.S. EDA by providing the required matching funds in advance of the application process in collaboration with other partners. If successful, EDA funding would cover up to 80 percent of total project costs. If funding is secured, the project is expected to create approximately 110 new jobs and attract $168 million in new private investment to the County.
In addition to the funding for Floyd, the Commission supported the creation of two new strategic funding programs, a housing project that will add 115 workforce housing units in Lee County and multiple energy projects that will help diversify the economy of rural Virginia.
Multiple energy projects also received Commission funding. The Commission recognizes that reliable, affordable energy is critical to the economic success of the region and that business attraction efforts are increasingly impacted by energy pricing and availability. The Commission also recognizes that the energy sector itself presents huge opportunities for job growth and investment across Southern and Southwest Virginia.
"The grants and programs approved at our meeting in Richmond are a perfect example of the Commission's ability to be flexible, innovative and forward-thinking as we meet the needs of our Southern and Southwest Virginia communities," said TRRC Chairman, Delegate Will Morefield. "I'd like to thank our departing commissioners for their work as well as Executive Director James Campos for his contributions to the Commission over the last few years. We have completed a comprehensive strategic planning effort, created several new programs and launched the Foundation for the Advancement of Southern and Southwest Virginia. All of these exceptional public servants played a key role in those efforts and they will have a positive impact on our communities for years to come. Looking forward, I am more excited about the Commission's future, and our ability to bring jobs and investment to Southern and Southwest Virginia, than ever."
"It has been an incredible honor to serve as Executive Director of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission," said TRRC Executive Director, Hon. James E. Campos. "I am grateful for the Commissioners, our dedicated staff, and the community leaders who are the heartbeat of this region. Our mission has always been about more than just grants; it’s about serving as a true partner in economic development to empower communities across Southern and Southwest Virginia to seize opportunities and build on their strengths. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, from launching the Foundation for the Advancement of Southern and Southwest Virginia to the adoption of a historic strategic plan, the creation of our Energy Ingenuity program, and more. I am confident that the momentum we have built will allow the Commission to continue to drive prosperity across Southern and Southwest Virginia for another 25 years. I want to thank the Commission for their trust, the communities we serve for their partnership, and Governor Glenn Youngkin for giving me this opportunity to serve the Commonwealth. Keep the momentum going!"
