Winchester-Frederick County Awards $50K in Tourism Grants

10 local businesses receive funding to boost marketing and attract more visitors

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Winchester–Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau has awarded $50,000 in grants to 10 local small businesses and organizations through its inaugural Small Business Tourism Grant Program. The $5,000 grants will support marketing and promotional efforts aimed at drawing more visitors to the area.

Why it matters

This program is an investment in the small businesses and tourism-related organizations that make the Winchester and Frederick County region a unique destination. By helping local partners expand their marketing reach, the CVB is strengthening the entire tourism ecosystem and encouraging more travelers to explore, stay longer, and spend more money in the area.

The details

The pilot initiative provides $5,000 grants to each of the 10 recipients, which include businesses like Bright Box Theater, Candy Hill Campground, Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, and Winchester Book Gallery. The funds can be used for digital, social, radio, print, and other tourism-focused promotions. Eligible applicants had to be operational tourism-oriented businesses with 20 or fewer full-time employees in the Winchester, Frederick County, Stephens City, and Middletown areas.

  • The application period ran from February 1 through February 21, 2026.
  • The grant recipients were announced on March 5, 2026.

The players

Winchester–Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau

The official tourism and film office for the Winchester and Frederick County region, funded by lodging tax revenues.

Justin Kerns

Executive director of the Winchester–Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Winchester-Frederick County Tourism Board

Provided oversight and evaluation of the grant applications.

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What they’re saying

“This program is about investing directly back in the small businesses and tourism-related organizations that make our destination unique.”

— Justin Kerns, Executive director, Winchester–Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau (thewinchestergazette.com)

“On behalf of the Winchester-Frederick County Tourism Board, we would like to sincerely thank the City and County for making this grant possible through their support of the CVB, as well as our local economic development departments, Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center and Friends of Old Town for helping spread the word about this grant and assisting numerous small businesses in applying to it.”

— Justin Kerns, Executive director, Winchester–Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau (thewinchestergazette.com)

What’s next

The Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau plans to continue the Small Business Tourism Grant Program in future years, providing additional funding opportunities for local tourism-related businesses.

The takeaway

This grant program demonstrates the Winchester-Frederick County region's commitment to supporting and promoting its diverse array of small businesses and tourism attractions. By investing in local marketing efforts, the CVB is helping to drive increased visitation and economic activity, strengthening the area's position as a premier travel destination.