Comments were made to the Commonwealth Transportation Board during their meeting on Thursday at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
Comments were made to the Commonwealth Transportation Board during their meeting on Thursday at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
Jon Murrill works on the Wytheville mural.
Jon Murrill works on the Wytheville mural.
Bland County was among the recipients of tourism funding as part of a $2.2 million package announced by Gov. Abigail Spanberger celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week.
Bland County Tourism received a $15,000 grant for its Continuation of The Big Picture initiative.
Also receiving funds was The Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre, which received $10,000 for its Dinner. Show. Done. initiative.
Across the state, 143 local tourism programs were funded.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Marketing Leverage and Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Marketing Programs — which award these grants — pair local marketing investments with matching state funds to support Virginia’s tourism industry, extend overnight stays, and encourage visitors to spend more across the Commonwealth. Local partners will commit $4.3 million to match the VTC grant funds, generating $6.5 million in new marketing and event production initiatives. In total, these awards will impact 858 localities, businesses, organizations that partner with VTC to encourage statewide tourism.
“The strength of Virginia’s tourism industry is critical to local economies across every region of our Commonwealth,” said Spanberger. “From rural communities to our urban centers, this funding will showcase the full breadth and beauty of our home while supporting jobs, expanding opportunities for small businesses, and driving economic growth statewide.”
VTC’s tourism marketing and sponsorship programs are designed to maximize limited marketing dollars through public-private partnerships, stimulate new tourism promotion initiatives, and extend the iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand.
“These VTC grant programs help amplify Virginia’s visibility, attract new visitors, and encourage longer stays,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. “On the heels of our Statewide Tourism Strategic Plan launch, we are proud to partner with regional, local, and private partners to invest in innovative and community-based solutions that drive tourism and sustained economic growth across the Commonwealth.”
These grant programs assist tourism-oriented applicants by matching their marketing commitment with additional funding to reach new markets and engage both new and repeat visitors:
“Effective tourism marketing is key to turning interest into visitation into economic impact,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “These programs give our partners the tools to tell more compelling stories about their destinations, connect with travelers in meaningful ways, and inspire deeper exploration across Virginia.”
VTC will open a Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program grant round in summer 2026, which is designed to assist small tourism-oriented businesses and organizations with fall and winter marketing initiatives. The Virginia Special Events and Festivals Program will open in late 2026 for events occurring between January 1 and December 31, 2027. The next round of the Marketing Leverage Program and the Virginia DMO Marketing Program will open in February 2027.
Organizations and businesses interested in applying for these grant opportunities may visit vatc.org/grants for more information.
Wythe County received a $15,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program for its Take a Time Out in Wythe: Trails Tunes and Twigs marketing initiative.
Wythe County partnered with local tourism and hospitality businesses to provide matching funds and support for the “Take a Time Out in Wythe: Trails, Tunes, and Twigs” tourism campaign, which promotes outdoor recreation, entertainment, and sports tourism experiences across the county. The project is designed to increase visitation, encourage overnight stays, and support local businesses and attractions throughout the community
In celebration of National Travel & Tourism Week, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) awarded more than $2.2 million in matching grant and sponsorship funds to 143 tourism programs across the Commonwealth. These awards are funded through VTC’s Marketing Leverage and Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Marketing Programs.
These programs pair local marketing investments with matching state funds to increase visitation, extend overnight stays, and grow traveler spending across the Commonwealth. This funding cycle, local partners will commit more than $4.3 million to match the VTC grant funds, generating more than $6.5 million in new marketing and event production initiatives focused on increasing overnight visitation to Virginia across all nine GO Virginia regions. In total, the awards will support 143 marketing programs and impact 858 tourism partners statewide.
“‘Take a Time Out in Wythe: Trails, Tunes, and Twigs’ reflects the unique mix of experiences visitors can find here in Wythe County,” said Allyson Williams, public information officer for Wythe County. “The name plays on the double meaning of ‘twigs,’ representing both our forests and outdoor recreation opportunities as well as hockey sticks tied to the excitement of Blue Ridge Bobcats hockey and events at Hitachi Energy Arena. It’s a fun way to capture the blend of nature, entertainment, and sports that makes our destination special.”
Emily Cooley
A local singer will become the first featured performer in the newly expanded Ghost Light Bourbon Bar on the lower level of the Millwald Theatre in Wytheville.
Emily Cooley will present an evening of soulful jazz and blues classics in three half-hour sets on Friday, May 29, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m.
The intimate venue, which debuted as a 1920s-style speakeasy last year, unveiled its newly expanded addition late last month. The former classroom space has increased the capacity of the Ghost Light Bourbon Bar from an estimated 30 guests to approximately 50 patrons.
Designed for an intimate atmosphere where cocktail enthusiasts can enjoy customized drinks such as the Millwald ’28 and Matinee Mischief, the Ghost Light Bourbon Bar has already hosted local musicians including Chase Altizer, Nate Montgomery and Albert Newberry for its “Behind the Portrait” live sessions. These concerts have typically attracted full houses with their laid-back ambiance and cozy surroundings.
For Cooley, the performance will showcase a quieter and more restrained side than audiences may be accustomed to seeing in recent months, though the singer still promises to captivate listeners with her enthralling voice. While rooted in soul and blues, her powerhouse performance at last year’s Chautauqua Festival proved she possesses the grit and fire of a full-fledged female rocker.
“A Tribute to the Queen of Rock and Roll” attracted the attention of the legendary Tams group when Cooley’s vigorous homage to Tina Turner resulted in an hour-long performance filled with jaw-dropping vitality and vocal power, complete with aggressive choreography and irrepressible energy. In addition to the Chautauqua performance, the Wytheville wife and mother brought the acclaimed program to the Wytheville Moose Lodge the previous fall.
Although Cooley broke new musical ground with this expansion into rock, her most recent performances have marked a return to her roots. On May 3, she wowed audiences with soulful a cappella renditions of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” at Franklin Street United Methodist Church as part of the Wytheville Training School and Cultural Center’s annual Gospel Fest.
There, Cooley proved she belonged among the ranks of regionally renowned gospel acts such as The Glorylanders, Jason Diggs, and Pastor Harry Grubb. The program was dedicated to the memory of beloved community advocate and avid supporter of the Wytheville Training School and Cultural Center, Bobby Green, who passed away April 29 at the age of 71.
Cooley’s invitation to perform at the Ghost Light Bourbon Bar comes as a result of the explosive vocal ability she has perfected through the torch singing traditions of jazz and blues. In returning to these genres, she pays homage to lifelong idols Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday while still honoring her enduring love of rock music.
The evening’s setlist will include jazz interpretations of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” and Joni Mitchell’s “Edith and the Kingpin,” alongside selections by rock pioneers Bonnie Raitt, Dusty Springfield, and Bette Midler. Rhythm and blues legend Ruth Brown and jazz greats Peggy Lee, Dianne Reeves, and Herbie Hancock will also be honored through standards such as “One for My Baby,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” and “Pick Yourself Up,” as well as deeper cuts including “I Ain’t Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again,” Randy Newman’s “Guilty,” and Bobby Freeman’s “Do You Want to Dance?”
The ambitious 27-song setlist promises to showcase Cooley’s remarkable vocal versatility while maintaining the intimacy and mystique perfectly suited for a one-of-a-kind venue like the Ghost Light Bourbon Bar. As the first ticketed event of Cooley’s career, the evening is expected to deliver a memorable and highly personal musical experience. At just $5 per ticket, the performance promises to be one Wytheville audiences will be discussing for a long time.
With only 50 seats available, tickets may be purchased online https://ci.ovationtix.com/36798/performance/11804721?performanceId=11804721.
The performance will take place at the Millwald Theatre, located at 205 West Main Street in Wytheville, on Friday, May 29. Doors open at 8 p.m., with the show presented in three 30-minute intervals and 15-minute intermissions between sets from 8:30 until 10:30 p.m. Tips are appreciated.
