2012/04/10

Tourism grant funds: RBEG - Small Biz Survival

Posted: 10 Apr 2012 04:51 AM PDT

Finding funding for tourism projects is always a challenge. One set of funds that gets overlooked for tourism is the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) for towns of fewer than 50,000 people.

The Kansas Flint Hills region is working together
on tourism training. Photo (CC) by TravelKS.

RBEG funds are intended to support rural entrepreneurs and small businesses. These funds are exceptionally flexible, but the idea that caught my attention for tourism is training and technical assistance.

In Kansas, the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition received $99,900 to provide technical assistance to the coalition, which plans to enhance tourism and economic development opportunities for businesses and communities throughout the Flint Hills.

Another innovative use could include creating a revolving loan fund for local tourism businesses.

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