Funding Will Aid in Recovery Marketing to Help Bring Visitors Back to the State

South Boston, Virginia – May 25, 2021 – Southern Virginia Motorsports Council (SVMC) has been awarded $10,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) Recovery Marketing Leverage Program (RMLP) through a grant donation. As the state rebounds from the pandemic, the grant is designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors through marketing and advertising initiatives. Formed in late 2020, SVMC is comprised of the teams at VIRginia International Raceway, South Boston Speedway and Virginia Motorsports Park and works to not only promote the tracks, but also provide a community for racing lovers across Virginia.

The VTC Recovery Marketing Leverage grant funds will aid SVMC in promoting special offers, additional programs and other tourism businesses across the state. The team will soon release a summer package for racing fans as well as a promotion around the Virginia “Wander Love” program, which gives race track visitors an itinerary of other attractions, restaurants and more to patronize.

“Tourism is a crucial section of the Virginia economy and when we invest in this industry, we support local job creation and drive regional economic growth, which is desperately needed now due to the pandemic,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “These funds give localities and businesses access to critical marketing resources that will help bring more travelers to our Commonwealth, increase visitor spending, and grow demand for Virginia products.”

In addition to SVMC, the RMLP initiative has provided more than $7.5 million to more than 450 statewide tourism entities, with $1.9 million coming from the VTC and over $5.6 million in-kind value from local partners to match. With visitors to Halifax County spending more than $51 million in 2019 and contributing over $2.9 million in local and state tax revenue, tourism has quickly become one of the Commonwealth’s largest economic engines.

“Southern Virginia’s racing history is storied and continues to build on that tradition,” states tourism director of Halifax County LaTonya Sadler. “We are thrilled to see the three entities come together to support one another, as they each bring their unique brand to motorsports. Halifax County looks forward to welcoming race fans to the region and working with our local tracks to increase awareness and attendance.”

The SVMC plans on launching programs as early as this summer, to kickstart seasonal attendance at local race tracks. For more information on upcoming packages, programs and SVMC, visit svmcracing.com.

About Southern Virginia Motorsports Council (SVMC)

Southern Virginia Motorsports Council (SVMC) is a group that was formed in early 2020 with the mission of collaboration and advocating for motorsports in the southern Virginia region. The vision of this group and this project is to create awareness, education and promotion of motorsports in southern Virginia. To learn more about the Southern Virginia Motorsports Council, visit svmcracing.com.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation

Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. In 2019, visitors to Virginia spent $27 billion, which supported 237,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more, visit virginia.org