May 31, 2017 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) announced details of its 2018 Event Fund grant program.

The grant program, launched in 2016, provides financial support for festivals and cultural events that serve Buncombe County residents as well as visitors to the area. 

BCTDA supports the grants program through an advertising program on the ExploreAsheville.com created, in part, to provide an unrestricted revenue source dedicated to assisting events and festivals with operational needs.  This discretionary income is not bound by the restrictions placed on the occupancy tax.

Applications for 2018 festivals and cultural events are due on Thursday, August 31, 2017; grants will be announced, Thursday, September 28, 2017. For a Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund 2018 Program Guide and Application form, visit AshevilleCVB.com.  Last year, BCTDA awarded $50,500 in grants to support 14 community festivals and events. 

A recent report from Tourism Economics (a division of Oxford Economics) noted that Buncombe County welcomed 3.8 million overnight guests in 2016, providing a customer base that assists in the sustainability of businesses in the community and contributes to tax revenues.  Those visitors spent $1.9 billion, generating an additional $1 billion in indirect and induced spending for a total economic impact of nearly $3 billion in the community.