Salem requested two grants from the state to support upcoming championships, and got them both.

On Monday, the Office of Governor Younkin announced that 27 Virginia communities launched new tourism programs to boost area economies, and at the end of implementation, the communities will also receive a $10,000 grant to assist with future plan development.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge announced its tourism initiative on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Empty hotel beds, dining rooms and downtowns were all effects of the pandemic that could be seen firsthand.

Two local tourism organizations in Southwest Virginia are in the running for $10,000 grants through the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

ROANOKE, Va. – Tourism boards in Southwest Virginia received a financial boost to help attract visitors through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virginia Tourism Corporation awarded a total of $80,000 to five tourism boards. The awards included:$20,000 for Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge$20,000 for Botetourt County$20,000 for the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce$10,000 to the Town of Rocky Mount$10,000 to the City of SalemVisit Virginia’s Blue Ridge President Landon Howard said his organization’s $20,000 will be spent mostly on online marketing. He believes regional travelers will look to the Roanoke Valley for a getaway. “Those people may not be traveling to Europe for a two or three week vacation, but they will do weekend trips to places like Virginia’s Blue Ridge.”

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, Va. – Smith Mountain Lake’s chamber of commerce received financial assistance Thursday to help the region economically bounce back from the coronavirus. The chamber accepted a $9,995 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to entice visitors to the area. The money will finance a tourism commercial specifically for Virginians, according Smith Mountain Lake’s Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Christopher Finley. “When the commonwealth pivoted back to Phase 2 and Phase 3, vacationers were willing to get out,” Finley said. Those visitors included Terry McGhee, who said he watched Smith Mountain Lake fill up as a child.