Travel Nevada awards $500,000 to rural communities to boost tourism
A look at downtown Eureka in rural Northern Nevada. A new special event, the Eureka Gold Rush Games, is set for June 26-27 this year.
Photo: Travel Nevada / Sydney Martinez
The Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) on March 16 approved $500,000 in grants to rural communities to market themselves as tourism destinations. In all, Travel Nevada will award 75 grants through its Rural Marketing Grants program to support various marketing projects, including promotion of a new special event, the Eureka Gold Rush Games. “As more and more people become vaccinated and begin to think about traveling again, it’s important for our rural communities to get the word out about what they offer,” Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall, NCOT chairwoman, said in a statement. “We are excited to be able to support rural Nevada communities in their efforts with these marketing grants.” Grants were awarded to nonprofit groups for tourism marketing projects that will result in overnight stays, ultimately increasing room tax revenue for the state, according to a March 16 press release. “Travel Nevada is resuming its Rural Marketing Grants program after a pause in 2020 due to lack of funding resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the release. Among the funded projects:
The Western Spirit Foundation was awarded $10,000 to promote a new special event, the Eureka Gold Rush Games, set for June 26-27. The family event will feature 1800s-style mining competitions such as hand mucking, spike driving and jackleg drilling.
Friends of Black Rock High Rock received a $12,000 grant to promote a short film about the Black Rock National Conservation Area on social media. The film, already produced, educates potential visitors about the beauty of and recreational opportunities in the Black Rock Desert, as well as the need to use this resource wisely.
The Comstock Foundation for History & Culture was awarded $12,000 to produce promotional videos and air them on TV and radio in northern Nevada and northeastern California.
Per the release, Travel Nevada receives three-eighths of 1% of room tax revenue as its operations budget. A portion of those funds is used to offer the Rural Marketing Grants Program. Grant recipients must provide a 50-50 match in funds or volunteer hours unless a waiver is approved. The grants are distributed in the form of reimbursements to the recipients after the projects are completed and labor and funding details are documented.
