Gov. Deal announced today that the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has awarded $178,730 in product development grants to 13 tourism and art entities across the state. Georgia Tourism and the Georgia Council for the Arts, both divisions of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, combined resources for the third year to maximize the Tourism Product Development Agreement program.

“Being able to offer visitors new options will only add to the quality of their experiences while vacationing in Georgia – ultimately giving them many reasons to return,” said Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Partnering with the Georgia Council for the Arts is an opportunity to create the kinds of cultural tourism opportunities visitors are seeking.”

“The recipients of funds from the Tourism Product Development Agreement program demonstrate outstanding work being done in local communities, exemplifying the role of the arts in tourism in our state,” said GCA Director Karen L. Paty. “We continue to be excited by opportunities to work with the Georgia Tourism division and its partners.”

The Tourism Product Development Agreement program was designed to financially support tourism development activities that sustain and create jobs at the local level, and to support Georgia’s creative economies with an emphasis on local artists and the nonprofit arts industry. The Georgia Department of Economic Development received 81 applications for the 2014 Tourism Product Development grant program, amounting to more than $1 million in requests.

Recipients of the 2014 Tourism Product Development recipients include:

• Augusta Canal Authority
• City of Colquitt
• City of Madison
• City of Toccoa
• Downtown Development Authority of the City of Atlanta
• Dublin Downtown Development Authority
• City of Dublin
• Fannin County
• Fulton County Arts Council
• Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority
• Atlanta Development Authority
• Whitfield County
• Zebulon Downtown Development Authority

Georgia Tourism’s Product Development team assists private for-profit, nonprofit and local governments by providing resources and financial assistance to develop tourism product across Georgia.