OCTOBER 2023
Grants for Relocation Outreach Work (GROW)
Applications Due November 3
Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing The new ThinkVermont GROW Program aims to help communities encourage and support new residents relocating to Vermont. The grant funds are intended to formalize a regional relocation network and increase capacity for relocation, retention, and outreach activities for either a specific region or state-wide, based on the audience served by the grant applicant. Grantees will be expected to collaborate with other organizations to optimize the chances for success. Relocation and retention efforts must be designed to reach and serve a broad audience, including underrepresented communities and new and diverse residents.
Grow Your Business With International Customers
Free Training Event November 1
The IITA Inbound Travel Steps to Success™ Program has been designed specifically to help lodging properties, attractions, and destinations develop and grow in the international market. In addition, Discover New England and invited guests will present market and promotional updates for our region. The event is being held in Boston, MA but VDTM is offering a free virtual option at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce office in Berlin. Please email Katharine Ingram if you would like to join us in Berlin. If you would like to join the training either in-person in Boston or virtually from your home rather than attend in Berlin, there is a $25 registration fee.
Total Solar Eclipse Presentation and Planning Meeting
Save the Date: November 16
Do you have questions on how Vermont's tourism industry can best prepare for next spring’s total solar eclipse? Please join us on November 16 for a presentation by Brook Kaufman, President and CEO of Visit Rapid City, SD on “Preparing your Community for an Eclipse: 13 All-Too-Real Truths.” Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to break into small groups to discuss the information presented and to start to develop action plans for our communities. The event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the National Life Building in Montpelier, with a virtual option for the presentation portion of the meeting. Please pre-register to attend.
VOREC Community Grant Program: Now Open
Applications Due December 15
The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation are now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 VOREC Community Grant Program Application. Funding will be awarded to non-profit organizations, businesses, and municipalities across the state in four tracks: Implementation, Project Development, Outdoor Equity, and Flood Recovery. Grants are intended to give communities resources to achieve their vision for a thriving outdoor recreation economy. Multi-faceted projects are encouraged. Projects must relate to at least one pillar listed on the VOREC website.
Are you interested in presenting at the 39th Annual Vermont Tourism Summit?
Presentation proposals are now being accepted for the 39th Annual Vermont Tourism Summit, May 8-10, 2024, at Mount Snow Grand Summit Resort. Share your knowledge and address current trends and issues relevant to Vermont travel industry businesses and professionals. Additionally, you can participate in networking opportunities and educational workshops. Learn more + register.
Submissions must be received by November 12.
Final Call: BEGAP Application Portal Closing
The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal will close on Monday, October 23rd. Businesses who have yet to apply or are still completing their application will need to do so by October 23rd. In September, the BEGAP award calculation changed, removing the $20,000 award cap for applicants with eligible net damage amounts between $100,000 and $1,000,000 to provide additional funding to businesses in need, up to 30% of their total unmet damages. Supplemental checks will begin going out this week to businesses that already received a BEGAP award. It is expected that all program funds will be expended when the application portal closes, and the application approval queue is cleared.
Vermont Signature Events Application Now Open
The Vermont Signature Events program is officially accepting applications! In partnership, the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce are offering this opportunity for events to gain heightened exposure and recognition. Signature Events are awarded annually and celebrate the diversity of experiences Vermonters and visitors alike can enjoy in the Green Mountain State. Applications are due by December 1.
Upcoming Events
November 2 | Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA)
Fifth Annual Outdoor Economy Summit and Member Meeting. Join 125 Vermont outdoor businesses, organizations, service providers, and policymakers to envision Vermont’s future outdoor economy.
November 12-14 | Vermont Short-Term Rental Conference and Trade Show
The 2023 Vermont Short-Term Rental Conference and Trade Show is an educational and networking event open to anyone with an interest in the vacation rental industry.
November 15 | Destination BTV: A Travel & Tourism Summit for Greater Burlington
Join the Lake Champlain Chamber and Hello Burlington for an event focused on our region’s visitor economy. Kevin Chu of the Vermont Futures Project will discuss how tourism can help address our workforce needs, plus hear regional updates on Amtrak, BTV, the Essex Experience and more.
Add Your Listing
In July, individual business listings on the VermontVacation.com directory received almost 23,000 unique page views. Listing your business or event offers great visibility.
Travel+Recreation Council
In lieu of the next regularly scheduled meeting, TRC members will join VDTM and industry leaders at the Eclipse planning meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2023 in Montpelier.
Copyright © 2023 Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing