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| SPRINGFIELD Five Pioneer Valley businesses and organizations have been named recipients of Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) tourism mini-grants totaling $15,000. Grant funds will be used for a variety of projects incusing Web site, direct mail and print advertising and marketing. Recipients are situated in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties and include the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, the Hampton Inn (West Springfield), the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group (Ludlow), Olde Deerfield Craft Faire (Deerfield) and the Springfield Business Improvement District. The grants are awarded to GSCVB members for projects/events that are designed to increase visitation and visitor spending in the three-county region. They are awarded on a two-to-one basis. For each dollar committed by the GSCVB, two dollars have been committed by the organization receiving the mini-grant totaling a minimum of $30,000 in private funds invested in tourism promotion through this program. According to GSCVB President Mary Kay Wydra, "We're happy to assist in the funding of such an interesting range of marketing initiatives. We're helping members reach out to the group tour and gay/lesbian markets, build a 'girls' getaway' promotion, and help publicize Downtown Uncorked, a successful annual event held at a number of venues. The tourism mini-grants are another example of the strong partnership that exists between the GSCVB and its members as we work together to enhance their success and market the region as an ideal travel destination." The mini-grant are made possible by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's 1038 Grant Program. The GSCVB, an affiliate of the Economic Development Council of Western MA, is a private non-profit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley for meetings and conventions, group tours and leisure travel. |