Politics & Government

Woodstock Nabs Grant To Boost Tourism

The city's Convention and Visitors Bureau was awarded a $12,000 grant, which would be used to make technology improvements at the Visitor's Center and to install kiosks signs.

The Woodstock Convention & Visitors Bureau has received a grant as part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development's 2013 Tourism Product Development Agreement Program

The program is a partnership of Georgia Tourism and the Georgia Council for the Arts, both of which are divisions of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 

The program financially supports "tourism development activities at the local level that sustain and create jobs, and support Georgia’s creative economies with an emphasis on local artists and the nonprofit arts industry," according to a press release.  

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"Creating new tourism product in Georgia is essential to the success of our tourism industry," said Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the Georgia Council for the Arts to create jobs and investment opportunities across the state."

Woodstock will use the $12,000 it received to make technology upgrades at Visitors Center at Dean's Store and install three information kiosks signs throughout the city: two in the downtown area and one near the new Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta along Ridgewalk Parkway. 

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Kyle Bennett, assistant director for tourism and visitor's center operations, added the city is excited to receive the grant. 

"Receiving this grant will have a tremendously positive impact on our abilities to promote Woodstock," he said. "This grant will also us to tackle two projects have needed to be for a long time, but we lacked the funds to do so." 

Bennett noted the city commonly receives requests to install information kiosks throughout the downtown area. The signs "will allow us to showcase what the downtown area has to offer, local tourism attractions, the outlet mall, and recreation and arts," he added. 

He also said the new equipment will help visitor center staff "better perform their jobs," and can also allow the public gain more knowledge and information about Woodstock. 

"Overall, this grant will have a major impact on tourism related efforts in Woodstock in 2013 and for years after," he later stated.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development received 72 applications for the 2013 Tourism Product Development grant program, which totaled to nearly $1 million in requests.  

The department awarded $180,000 to 18 tourism and arts organizations throughout the state.

Along with the Woodstock CVB, other recipients include:

  • Augusta Canal Authority, 
  • city of Darien
  • city of LaGrange
  • city of Madison
  • city of Moultrie
  • city of Stone Mountain
  • Decatur County Commission
  • Decatur Downtown Development Authority 
  • Downtown Development Association of Columbus 
  • Downtown Development Association of LaFayette 
  • Downtown Statesboro Development Authority
  • Lincoln County Development Authority 
  • Manchester Downtown Development Authority
  • Tift County Development Authority 
  • Troup County
  • Waycross Tourism
  • White County Development Authority


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