Vinton County opens tourism grant applications for local businesses, groups

Vinton County’s tourism department opened its 2026-27 grant application window June 30, giving local businesses and organizations until July 17 to seek support for projects meant to draw more visitors and improve what they find here. The program is limited to applicants located within Vinton County, and officials are steering it toward work that can be completed locally and noticed by residents and guests alike.

The department said the money can go to new attractions, repairs or enhancements to existing offerings, marketing tourism services, community events and other tourism-related initiatives. That broad list means the pool is not confined to one kind of applicant. Event organizers, downtown business owners, trail groups, attractions and visitor-oriented nonprofits all fit the profile of projects the county is trying to encourage.

Discover Vinton County describes the program as a limited mini-grant pool for tourism-related businesses and organizations that want to attract visitors, improve experiences and contribute to the local tourism economy. For residents, the most visible results would likely come from projects that change what people can actually do in McArthur and beyond, such as better event staging, upgraded visitor spaces, improved signage, or amenities tied to recreation and community gatherings.

The timing matters. Executive Director Aidan Reagh said tourism brought in $23.8 million in 2025, and the county is trying to build on that base as the summer travel season gets underway. Reagh was hired by the Vinton County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 after a recommendation from the county’s tourism advisory board, which had sought applications and interviewed candidates. The department, established in 2024, is still shaping how it uses tourism as an economic development tool.

Vinton County’s pitch is closely tied to the Hocking Hills region, where the tourism office highlights hiking, cycling, equestrian riding, scenic driving and other outdoor activities. That makes the grant window especially relevant for groups with ideas that connect visitors to the county’s small towns, trail assets and local events rather than just passing traffic through the region.

Applications are available through Discover Vinton County, and the tourism office is at 104 W. Main St. in McArthur, OH 45651. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff can also be reached at 740-978-2510 or info@discovervintoncounty.com.