RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Fifty-one local tourism initiatives are sharing in Virginia tourism grants totaling $773,000. Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the grant distribution Wednesday under the Virginia Tourism Marketing Leverage Program. It helps local and regional tourism groups attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars. The local groups match the state grant funds by a minimum of 2-to-1. The governor’s office says the 51 local tourism initiatives will benefit 229 tourism entities. Some of the grant recipients are the East Coast Surfing Championships and Natural Bridge Park re-branding, each receiving $50,000; the Taubman Museum of Art, $25,000; the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, $24,000; and Bath County tourism, $25,000, among others.
