State of Georgia Awards Technology Grants to Tourism Entities

ATLANTA, September 23, 2008 - The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), through the Georgia Tourism Foundation, recently awarded $43,000 in E-Challenge Grants to 23 communities, convention & visitor bureaus, regional travel associations and other non-profit tourism entities across the state.

The E-Challenge grants were established in 2007 to assist communities in implementing innovative technology marketing programs to promote the state's tourism assets. Projects funded include web enhancements, e-newsletters, new video content, booking engines, Podcasts, downloadable brochures and more.

'The e-challenge grants support tourism entities as they implement new and innovative technologies,' said Charlie Gatlin, GDEcD Deputy Commissioner for Tourism and Marketing and Executive Director of the Tourism Foundation. 'The funded projects will help to promote Georgia's tourism assets by engaging visitors with interactive marketing programs.'

This year, the Foundation received 23 applications with grant requests totaling more than $55,000. A committee of judges reviewed and scored the applications based on several factors including project goals and objectives; positive economic impact; and the ability to attract and service visitors. Applicants were required to attend the division's annual Techno Tourism Conference held in Athens in April to be eligible for a grant. The hands on conference offered attendees information on new technologies and opportunities to enhance their tourism marketing.

The Georgia Tourism Foundation allows for the creation of new public-private partnerships that merge and strengthen Georgia's tourism marketing efforts, in order to attract more visitors and increase the industry's economic impact throughout the state. The Foundation was created in 2005 through Senate Bill 125, spearheaded by Senator Jeff Mullis of Chickamauga and Representative Ron Stephens of Savannah, as part of Governor Perdue's Commission for a New Georgia. This non-profit, public-private organization brings together the leadership of the state's premier tourism destinations to consolidate marketing efforts, pool resources and more effectively promote Georgia's natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich attractions to vacationers.

Recipients of the 2008 E-Challenge Grants included:

Activities Council of Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau
Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum
Brunswick Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau
Camden County Public Service Authority
City of Douglas
Columbia County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce
Georgia's Antebellum Trail Association
Greene County Chamber of Commerce
Historic Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau
Kingsland Convention & Visitors Bureau
Macon-Bibb Convention & Visitors Bureau
Madison & Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
Magnolia Midlands Regional Travel Association
Marietta Welcome Center
Oconee County Chamber of Commerce
Sandy Springs Hospitality & Tourism
St. Mary's Downtown Development Authority
Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition
Valdosta State University - Peach State Summer Theatre

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.