Funds include $8 million for Outdoor Legacy Golf Course Revitalization

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey recently announced the launch of the Visit Arizona Initiative, a program designed to increase visitation and tourism spending in the state, bolster job creation and accelerate economic recovery. 

The initiative will use over $100 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan to assist communities across the state in recovery through tourism marketing, event and attraction support, and outdoor recreation revitalization. 

"Tourism is essential for Arizona's booming economy and job growth," said Governor Ducey. "When visitors from across the globe travel to our great state, they stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, buy our products and enjoy our recreational activities.”

$8 million of those funds will go to the Visit Arizona Legacy Golf Course Revitalization Grant.  As the Arizona travel, tourism, and hospitality industries recover from the pandemic, the Legacy Golf Course Revitalization Program will provide aid to older golf courses to modernize and become more sustainable.  Priority will be given to those courses pursuing improved water conservation and sustainability. 

While the guidelines and application will be forthcoming, some of the projects that the funding may assist with would include turf removal, purchases of water saving technologies and upgrades to inefficient irrigation systems. 

Golf and other outdoor recreation play a huge part in the Arizona economy.  The golf industry produces an estimated $4.6 billion in total economic activity and support approximately 50,000 jobs.  Over 10 million rounds of golf are played on over 300 courses throughout the state and nearly 550,000 Arizonians are avid golfers.  The industry also contributes $388 million in local and state taxes. 

Visit Arizona Initiative comes from the American Rescue Plan, so courses will need a DUNS number and SAM.Gov account to apply for funding.

More information on the program is available at https://tourism.az.gov/visit-arizona-legacy-golf-course-revitalization-grant/ and questions can be directed the Arizona Office of Tourism at Grants@Tourism.Az.Gov