Organizations all over Virginia are preparing for the statewide 150^th anniversary of the Civil War and Emancipation, the Virginia Sesquicentennial.  Historic Manassas, Inc., a Virginia Main Street program, in coordination with the City of Manassas, is gearing up for the commemoration with a four-day event, July 21 -24, 2011, featuring living history demonstrations, speakers, art, music, and many other historical commemorations and activities for the family.

Partnerships and heritage tourism activities like this are the focus of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial Tourism Marketing Program created by the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission (the Commission) and the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).  The program is designed to help Virginia community organizations, working in partnership with the local tourism industry, promote the observance of the anniversary.

Program applicants can apply for up to $5,000, with a required 1:1 match, to fund events or programs that support and further the Commission’s  goals of diversity, inclusiveness, education, and permanence.  A minimum of three entities must partner financially to apply for funding consideration.  Partners may consist of Virginia towns, cities, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce and not-for-profit entities, to name a few.

Applications are due on Thursday, April 7, 2011. 

For more information visit VTC’s Partnership Alliance Marketing webpage.  And for questions regarding the program, contact Steve Galyean at sgalyean@virginia.org or (804) 545-5517.