City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 3, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PATRICIA WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT & CEO VISIT ALEXANDRIA
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Consideration of a Grant application for Visit Alexandria from Virginia Tourism Corporation to Provide Support for Tourism Recovery.
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ISSUE: Consideration and acceptance of supplementary grant funding for Visit Alexandria from Virginia Tourism Corporation to fund continued support for tourism sector recovery.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Authorize the submission of a grant application for grant funds which are part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation ARPA Tourism Recovery Program for $990,000; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: Visit Alexandria is the designated Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the City of Alexandria, as recognized by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC). Its responsibilities include advertising, public relations, digital marketing, web site, social media, meetings and group sales, international marketing, destination event marketing, promotions, marketing research, and visitor center operation. VTC is responsible for these same marketing activities at the state level.
In October 2021 VTC announced that it had received approximately $50 million in federal funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), of which $30 million was being set aside to regrant to all municipalities in the Commonwealth, based on a calculation of Covid-related revenue losses and market share. Alexandria's appropriation has been calculated by VTC to be $990,000.
DISCUSSION: Visit Alexandria and the Department of Project Implementation seek to apply for these supplementary grant funds, which have already been set asi...
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