The Suffolk Division of Tourism recently received a $3,000 matching grant from the state for its “Untap the Possibilities” Craft Brew Marketing Initiative.

The grant came from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Marketing Leverage Program, which is designed to help local and regional tourism divisions attract more visitors by matching marketing dollars with state grant funds. The state awarded 56 grants totaling $884,000.

A minimum of three Virginia entities must partner together to be awarded the grant. The partnerships can come from a multitude of organizations and events, and Suffolk’s tourism department partnered with the Economic Development Authority and two local businesses.

“This was a combination of forces from tourism and economic development and the state as well as Brick and Mortar Brewery, that is opening next week, and Decent People Taproom,” Economic Development Director Kevin Hughes said.

Decent People Taproom, a self-serve beer and wine restaurant, opened in late February. Brick and Mortar Brewery will have its grand opening on St. Patrick’s Day. Decent People is a new addition to the growing North Suffolk, and Brick and Mortar will join downtown Suffolk.

The grant awards $3,000 to the initiative, and the matching half of the grant comes from funding from the city’s budget, according to Hughes. The $6,000 total will go toward television and social media marketing.

“We are working on a video segment that would feature both locations in commercials for tourism and economic development to put on television and social media,” Hughes said.

Craft beer has room to grow in Suffolk, but it also has the possibility to bring in people from outside the city to enjoy.

“At the heart of it and why we are doing it is to encourage visitors into Suffolk to come visit,” Hughes said. “We know that in the craft brew industry that folks like to travel. Now that we have two new venues and have a working relationship, it will be fun to put together an initiative to highlight northern and downtown Suffolk. The timing was perfect to bring everybody together.”

While one location is a brewery and one is a taproom, both offer the craft beer experience. Tourism and economic development are excited to have the two locations in Suffolk.

“I think what is exciting is that we are bringing on two venues in different parts of the city at the same time,” Hughes said. “It’s great to not only tell people that we have some fun and exciting craft brew locations, but we have two distinct ones in two different parts of the cities. We are excited.”