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Council extends event-management contract and awards tourism grant for virtual African-American Heritage Trail tour
Summary
Council extended AV Adventure Productions' year-round event-management contract into FY27 and awarded a $28,000 tourism grant to Let Freedom Ring Foundation to build a virtual tour for the African-American Heritage Trail; staff highlighted audience growth for comedy, wine/whiskey and cat-festival events and said Visit Williamsburg is a key partner.
Council authorized the interim city manager to execute an amendment extending AV Adventure Productions' year-round event-management contract into FY27. Staff summarized event performance metrics, including higher attendance at the Last Word Comedy Festival and sold-out ticketed events at the Williamsburg Wine & Whiskey weekend; Visit Williamsburg participation helps track engagement and hotel stays.
Separately, council awarded a $28,000 tourism-promotion contingency fund grant to Let Freedom Ring Foundation to develop a virtual tour for the soft launch of the African-American Heritage Trail. Visit Williamsburg is contributing $40,000 toward the project, and JNF Alliance (Hampton-based) was selected as the developer. Staff said the virtual product will be used during Juneteenth, July 4 and the First Baptist Church 250th anniversary events and will continue to be available to visitors, including those with mobility limitations.
What comes next: Staff will finalize contract amendments with AV Adventure and proceed with the virtual-tour development; funding remains within the TPCF FY26 budget and any unspent TPCF funds roll back into the tourism development fund.
