Cobb Travel & Tourism to Provide $2M in Grants to Support Hospitality and Tourism Organizations
 
Applications for Hospitality & Tourism Workforce Employee Retention Grant are open until December 8
 
Cobb Travel & Tourism (CT&T) announced the launch of a grant program to help Cobb County’s hospitality and tourism industries combat unemployment and offset current workforce challenges. The Hospitality & Tourism Workforce Employee Retention Grant program will provide $2 million to art organizations, live entertainment venues, tourist attractions, and craft beverage makers for workforce recovery, recruitment, and retention.
 
“We know the pandemic greatly impacted the hospitality and tourism industry, and we are still recovering today,” said Holly Quinlan, president & CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “All of us at Cobb Travel & Tourism are honored to distribute funds to the organizations that call Cobb home and enhance the workforce in the hospitality and tourism industries.”
 
Applications will open on November 1, 2023, for eligible local organizations. Funding will benefit up to 100 organizations with a maximum grant allocation of $20,000 to assist in recruiting, recovering, and retaining employees after the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of approved projects include training or development opportunities, recognition and reward programs, enhancements in technology or equipment, recruitment advertising costs, background checks, testing and onboarding costs, job fairs, and networking and transportation assistance.
 
CT&T received approval from the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in January 2023 to administer an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant of $2 million to support Cobb County’s hospitality and tourism industries. Cobb County was awarded approximately $147 million from ARPA to lessen the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cobb County also provides funding in the categories of community health, support services, economic development, public safety, and county infrastructure.