BCTDA Provides $50,500 in Grants to 14 Festivals
September 28, 2016 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) voted today to provide $50,500 in grants to support 14 community festivals and events. Utilizing discretionary advertising revenue from the ExploreAsheville.com website, BCTDA developed a Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund in early 2016. The new grant program is a mechanism to foster festivals and cultural events that serve Buncombe County residents as well as visitors to the area. The primary purposes of this fund are: • To support and preserve cultural identity within Buncombe County • To stimulate the creation of new or expansion of existing tourism Events • To help events grow With the redesign of the...
BCTDA Takes Steps to Establish Independent Organization
August 31, 2016 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) took steps today toward establishing the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau as a new, independent organization. It is anticipated that the process will be finalized by June 30, 2017. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has been a stalwart advocate of tourism and served at the forefront of efforts to create the Blue Ridge Parkway, promote the authentic culture of the region and shine a spotlight on the handmade craft industry. This leadership helped shape the Asheville area tourism experience and greatly contributed to the quality of life in the region. The creation of BCTDA in 1983, as part of the hotel occupancy tax...
Tourism – A catalyst for economic health or a nuisance?
Patrick Whalen, president of Public Interest Projects, Inc., provides insightful historical context about the contributions of the tourism industry in his Citizen-Times op-ed piece, “Tourism –A catalyst for economic health or a nuisance?” Pat recognizes that community partnership is at “the foundation for the successful independent local business scene that we enjoy today," and stating "Tourism has been a tremendously underappreciated tool in helping Asheville become a successful, profitable, thriving and desirable destination.” Read the full editorial here.
BCTDA Awards Nearly $3.9 million to Community Projects
October 28, 2015 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) awarded six community projects $3.9 million in funding today from the Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF), including $3.1 million for projects owned by the City of Asheville. Greenways, soccer fields and the WNC Nature Center are among the City of Asheville-owned assets that collectively received 80 percent of the allocated funding. “The TPDF recipients in this cycle represent a collection of multifaceted capital projects that develop and sustain destination offerings while benefiting other local economic sectors—and the greater community—with facilities and infrastructure that enrich daily life for all of us in Asheville,” said...