The Buncombe County Tourism
Development Authority (BCTDA) will hold a Tourism Product Development Fund
(TPDF) information session for potential applicants interested in learning more
about the application process. The meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday,
September 18 at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, will include TPDF
committee members and Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau staff to
discuss legislation governing the fund, the application submission process and
criteria for funding. Following a break, interested applicants are
invited to stay for a workshop at 3 p.m. that will focus on best practices for
data collection and room night reporting. Applications are available for
download at BCTDA.org and are due on Monday, January 28, 2013.
As guided in the enabling
legislation, TPDF funding assists with the construction of tourism projects
that will significantly increase overnight room stays in Buncombe County and,
subsequently, drive additional dollars into the local economy. The TPDF
committee, a nine-member committee appointed by the BCTDA, is charged with
reviewing applications and making recommendations to the BCTDA. By vote, the
BCTDA ultimately approves final funding awards.
Since the TPDF legislation
was passed in 2001, the BCTDA has awarded funding totaling more than $13.5
million to 14 community projects.
“The intention of the TPDF
is to increase tourism to the area. The TPDF committee is seeking applicants
that can thoroughly demonstrate their project’s economic impact through
measuring anticipated new room nights,” said TPDF Committee Chair Jeff
Covington, senior vice president at Forest Commercial Bank. “The committee is
also looking for interesting projects that are ready to break ground, would
spur additional development and complement the Asheville area destination
brand.”
Tourism product funding is
generated through one percent of the four percent room tax collected from
overnight visitors that stay in Buncombe County hotels, bed & breakfast
inns and cabins. For profit and non-profit entities are eligible to apply for
funding and funds can be awarded as a grant, loan guaranty or pledge of debt
service.
More than 3 million
overnight leisure visitors travel to the Asheville area annually generating
more than $2 billion in economic impact to the region.
Contact: Marla Tambellini, Deputy Director, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, 828.258.6138, mtambellini@exploreasheville.com or Cate Marvill, Senior Project Manager, 828.210.2724, cmarvill@exploreasheville.com.
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