Tourism Development Grants Available

We all love our town and want to see it thrive. Have you ever had an idea that could improve Ruston - Lincoln Parish, but didn't know where to start? The Ruston Lincoln Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau is ready to create partnerships and draw visitors into the area!

The Ruston Lincoln Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau is now accepting applications for the 2014 Tourism Development Grant Program. This program is a matching grants program geared toward generating increased travel and overnight visits to the area by assisting with the growth and promotion of the events. To be considered for funding under the program, projects must target markets beyond the local area and demonstrate the potential to make or have a record of making an economic impact in Ruston and Lincoln Parish. 

“These matching grant dollars can provide vital assistance to our local organizations to bring tourism dollars to our community,” said CVB President/CEO Travis Napper.

There have been a few updates to the application process. Groups and organizations who have received grants in the past will need to make an appointment to pick up an application and review new guidelines. First time applicants will need to first attend the Tourism Development Grant workshop and follow up with a one-on-one appointment to go over the application prior to be eligible to receive the grant. 

The workshop will be held on November 12th at 10:00 a.m. at the CVB, located at 2111 North Trenton Street.

“Our end goal is to create a cycle of new events that need help getting started, and grow them into successful, self-sustainable events. As those events become self-sustainable, we’ll be able to assist with new projects, continually adding to the quality of life of our community and truly showcasing what this area has to offer to visitors,” says Travis. 

Travis says the CVB has increased its grant budget for 2014 to encourage new applicants and provide more opportunities. During 2013, the CVB awarded numerous grants to various tourism related projects. Those funds were used to support a variety of events such races, tournaments, rodeos and festivals. 

Applications must be submitted to the Ruston Lincoln Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau no later than December 9, 2013. If there are any remaining funds, grants will be offered throughout the year as new partnership opportunities arise, but will be on a first-come, first served basis.

For questions or to set up a one-on-one appointment with Travis Napper or Amanda Quimby, please call 318-255-2031.

CVB Releases New Motivation Program to Assistance Travel and leisure Growth

Local residents can help support tourism in Lincoln Parish through a new incentive program created by the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau called “TAP” into Lincoln Parish.

The Travel Ambassador Program (TAP) seeks to get local residents in Lincoln Parish involved in helping to attract more meeting and conferences to the area by providing the CVB with personal contacts that could lead to meetings or conferences being booked in Lincoln Parish.

“The CVB recognizes that many of the residents within Lincoln Parish are a part of various associations, professional organizations, as well as social and religious groups,” said CVB President and CEO Travis Napper. “We are asking community members to be ambassador for tourism by sharing with us their personal contacts so that we can then reach out to them about bringing their meeting or conference to Lincoln Parish. We are simply asking residents to point us in the right direction and we will do the rest.”

 
Local residents will be rewarded for their participation.  Napper said qualified referrals that result in a definite booking of 20 or more room nights will receive a $100 gift card to one of Lincoln Parish’s outstanding local restaurants.

All qualified referrals will also be entered into a drawing for a prize packet valued at $1,000 to be awarded during National Travel and Tourism Week in May 2013.

“This program is all about tapping into our community to attract tourism,” said Timothy Bush, vice president of sales and marketing. “There is really no reason not to involve the community. It will help us generated solid leads on potential business and help the community know how important tourism is to the local economy.”

Napper said the program will be ongoing. However, the CVB will concentrate its efforts on booking short term opportunities that are available in 2013 and 2014. Napper said the plan of action is to contact potential groups and sell them on the experience of bringing their groups to Lincoln Parish.

“Lincoln Parish has several things going for it that could appeal to potential groups,” he said. “We have affordable hotel rates, which in this economy is really important to meeting planners, we have flexible meeting space in Lincoln Parish that could work for a variety of group sizes and we are a destination that is very much in the drive market being right along Interstate 20. Many groups may have never considered Ruston before.

Our job is to let them know what our community does offer that could work for them.”

If you have a referral that could potential bring a meeting or conference to Ruston contact Travis Napper or Timothy Bush at 318-255-2031. They can also be reached by email at tnapper@rustonlincoln.comor tbush@rustonlincoln.com