Cowboy festival gets $7,000 grant

Genoa has been awarded $7,000 to publicize the second annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival from the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

The money is expected to be spent on print, broadcast and online ads, billboards, flyers, posters and promotional events especially in California, Arizona and Utah.

The goal is to draw more tourists to Douglas County from outside.

The commission, meeting in Reno, voted for grants totaling more than $362,000 that will enable 73 organizations to advertise and market an array of tourism venues, events and activities that draw travelers and deliver dollars to sustain local economies.

"Awarding these grants extends a helping hand to rural communities so they can reach out and entice more consumers to experience their local events, attractions and activities," Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki, NCOT chair, said. "Grants truly make a difference in whether rural Nevada venues can afford the marketing they need to sustain their tourism-dependent economies. Spreading the word can transform a small event with 200 local people into an economic booster with 2,000 visitors who check into hotels and stay awhile."

The Genoa Cowboy Music & Poetry Festival will be May 5-8, 2011.

The festival sold 3,000 tickets its first year for seven concerts by western musicians and more than 80 workshops and drew another 2,000 people to western art exhibits and other free activities. www.genoacowboyfestival.com