CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) The Virginia Tourism Corporation will award more than $2 million in grants to local tourism programs across the Commonwealth, and nearly $40,000 of those funds will be headed to Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Governor Glenn Younkin announced the marketing initiatives Monday.

“Virginia’s tourism industry is a powerful engine of economic opportunity, creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and showcasing the best of every corner of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement released by his office. “These targeted grants are strategic, results-driven investments that foster public-private partnerships to boost local economies and strengthen Virginia’s position as a premier travel destination.”

The Tom Tom Foundation will get $15,000 for the 13th annual Tom Tom Festival: Evolve, with funds coming from the Commonwealth’s Marketing Leverage Program.

Charlottesville-Albemarle VA250 will receive a $10,000 grant from VA250 Marketing Program for Local VA250 Podcast/History Lovers, part of the Commonwealth’s effort to promote Virginia’s significance as part of the 250th anniversary of the United States celebration.

The Crozet Winter Brews Festival will get $3,600 toward the Winter Brews Getaway. Foxfield Racing LLC will receive $3,239.86 for Virginia Steeplechase Racing. James Monroe’s Highland (William & Mary Foundation) will get $2,880 for its “A Window to a New America” program. Friends of Charlottesville Downtown will get $2,000 for its “Make It Happen Downtown campaign.”4

Those funds will all come the Marketing Leverage Program.

Three of the largest grants from the initiative are headed to nearby Culpeper, Fluvanna County and Louisa County.

Culpeper Tourism and Town Economic Development is set to receive $20,000 for its “Culpeper is for Food Lovers” campaign, while Fluvanna’s “Find Pleasant Grove: By Land and Water” program is also going to get $20,000.

Louisa will receive $20,000 for content development and search engine optimization work.

Including an expected $2.47 million in matching funds from local partners, the initiative will pump over $4.76 million into efforts to increase tourism in the Commonwealth over the next two years.

“Tourism provides a necessary pathway to employment in Virginia, creating opportunities for students, seasonal workers, and hospitality professionals alike,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura in a statement. “These grants not only attract more visitors, but they help sustain the thousands of jobs that power our hotels, restaurants, attractions, and main streets across the Commonwealth. When we invest in tourism, we’re also investing in Virginia’s workforce and economic resilience.”