The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has awarded $180,000 in product development agreements to 18 tourism and art entities across the state. Georgia Tourism and the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), both divisions of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, combined resources for the second year to maximize the 2013 Tourism Product Development Agreement program.

“Creating new tourism product in Georgia is essential to the success of our tourism industry,” said Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the Georgia Council for the Arts to create jobs and investment opportunities across the state.”

"The recipients demonstrate the benefits provided to local economies by arts partnerships that produce jobs and generate revenue,” said GCA Director Karen L. Paty. “We continue to be excited by opportunities to continue working together with the Tourism Division in support of a vibrant Georgia.”

The Tourism Product Development Agreement program was designed to financially support tourism development activities at the local level that sustain and create jobs, and support Georgia’s creative economies with an emphasis on local artists and the nonprofit arts industry. The Georgia Department of Economic Development received 72 applications for the 2013 Tourism Product Development grant program amounting to nearly $1 million in requests.  

Recipients of the 2013 Tourism Product Development recipients include:

Augusta Canal Authority

City of Darien

City of LaGrange

City of Madison

City of Moultrie

City of Stone Mountain

Decatur County Commission

Decatur Downtown Development Authority

Downtown Development Association of Columbus

Downtown Development Association of LaFayette

Downtown Statesboro Development Authority

Lincoln County Development Authority

Manchester Downtown Development Authority

Tift County Development Authority

Troup County

Waycross Tourism

White County Development Authority

Woodstock Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

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.