PARKERSBURG, WV (December 15, 2008) – Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau President Steve Nicely announced the bureau will receive $401,101 in 2009 from the Matching Advertising Partnership Program administered by the West Virginia Tourism Commission.

The grant program provides matching funds for innovative and effective direct advertising projects that increase visitation and travel expenditures in West Virginia. Thirty tourism entities - including CVBs, special events, and individual destinations - submitted grant proposals to the Tourism Commission for approval at their meeting last week.

The local CVB received the third largest overall tourism grant and the single largest CVB grant in the state. The bureau must match the grant funds dollar-for-dollar for its 2009 marketing and advertising campaign.

“We are very thankful to the Wood County Commission and the cities of Parkersburg, Vienna and Williamstown who are supporting the local tourism industry through the increased hotel/motel tax approved in 2007. The combination of the hotel tax increase, additional revenue from our partners, and more state grant funds will allow us to market the area through multiple new initiatives in the coming year,” Nicely stated.

There are three new initiatives included as part of the CVB’s comprehensive marketing plan in 2009.  The CVB will redevelop its web site to make it more of a trip planner that features a searchable database, place new media buys within selected markets, and oversee an online magazine campaign with Madden Media.  Nicely said other new marketing efforts will be explored in the coming months.

To learn more about the Greater Parkersburg CVB visit, www.GreaterParkersburg.com  or call 304-428-1130.

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