Outer Banks Nonprofits and Towns Awarded $1.77 Million Through Tourism Impact Grants

By Jeff Schwartzenberg
Dec. 09, 2025

Manteo, NC (December 9, 2025) – On November 20, the Dare County Tourism Board approved $1.77 million in funding for 12 local nonprofit organizations and Dare governmental entities. The Tourism Impact Grants (TIG) support programs and services that are needed because of tourism’s effects. At its December meeting, the Dare County Commissioners gave unanimous consent for the expenditures.

Offered each year by the Dare County Tourism Board, these grants can support projects such as multi-use paths, beach accesses, environmental sustainability initiatives and capital projects at cultural and historical attractions. Since 1993, the Dare County Tourism Board's restricted fund grants have supported 233 awards to 49 local nonprofits and municipalities, resulting in $21.31 million for programs and services that provide a tangible and sustained benefit for the community.

The source page includes attributed comments from Lee Nettles, Executive Director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Bryan Burhans, Executive Director of Outer Banks Forever, and Meredith Guns, Town of Kill Devil Hills Planning Director. Their remarks emphasize tourism’s role in strengthening Dare County, preserving history and culture, improving mobility and safety, restoring the Bodie Island Double Keepers' Quarters, supporting access to National Park Service staff and exhibits, and extending safe pedestrian connections for residents and visitors.

The projects approved through the 2025-26 Tourism Impact Grants funding process are:

• Replacement of three public access boardwalks on Dolphin Lane, Due East Road and Dune Way in Avon (Avon Property Owners Association - $27,750.00).
• Expansion of the Community Care Clinic to create a fourth dental clinic treatment room and add a mental health counseling room (Community Care Clinic of Dare County - $100,000.00).
• Construction of a .35-mile pathway along Harriot Street from U.S. 64/264 to Groundhog Lane, linking the school, neighborhoods and businesses with the Roanoke Island Multi-Use Trail (Dare County - $125,000.00).
• Construction of custom cabinetry designed to protect, illuminate and preserve the Richard Etheridge Collection of paintings by James Melvin, which help aquarium visitors learn about the Pea Island lifesavers (NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island - $30,000.00).
• Upgrades to the existing crosswalk with lights and signage to help Island Farm visitors cross Highway 64 between the parking lot and historical sites on both the east and west sides of the road (Outer Banks Conservationists - $10,930.00).
• Restoration of the Bodie Island Double Keepers' Quarters after fire damage, allowing the Visitors Center to reopen for indoor interaction with National Park Service staff and exhibits (Outer Banks Forever - $150,000.00).
• Construction of sidewalk along West First Street from Canal Drive to U.S. 158 at the crosswalk and along East First Street from US 158 to the beach access (Town of Kill Devil Hills - $208,739.20).
• Construction of a memorial recognizing the heritage and history of the U.S. Lifesaving Service, Weather Service and Army Signal Corps in Kitty Hawk (Town of Kitty Hawk - $49,434.00).
• Construction of a multi-use path along U.S. 158 between Carolista Drive and W Soundside Road beside Jockey's Ridge State Park, spanning approximately 4490 linear feet (Town of Nags Head – $750,000.00).
• Construction of approximately 550 linear feet of sidewalk along Admiral Street, extending the sidewalk in front of The Shoppes at 10.5 shopping complex to the Admiral Street Beach access (Town of Nags Head - $50,000.00).
• Construction of a sidewalk on the north side or Grouse Street from U.S.158 to NC 12, along with relocation of the crosswalk at Virginia Dare Trail so it lines up with the new sidewalk (Town of Nags Head - $54,375.00).
• Replacement of the multi-use path from Hillcrest Drive to the northern Town line with concrete to improve pedestrian safety (Town of Southern Shores - $220,023.62).

About Dare County Tourism Board Grants

Each year, the Dare County Tourism Board provides multiple grant opportunities to help fund and support Outer Banks projects and events led by non-profits and government entities. Event Grants are intended for events that drive overnight visitation to Dare County during less-than-peak months (September 7 to June 15). The Board also provides additional funding through its Restricted Fund Grants, including Tourism Impact Grants and Long-Term Unappropriated Grants, for programs or services needed due to the impact of tourism. Guidelines, applications and past grant award lists are available at outerbanks.org/grants.

About the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is the official tourism authority for Dare County, North Carolina, encompassing the towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo and the islands of Roanoke and Hatteras. The Bureau promotes sustainable tourism while preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of North Carolina's barrier islands. More information is available at outerbanks.org.

Recent Tourism Impact Grants in Action

Avon Property Owners Association – Oceanfront Boardwalks

The Elizabethan Gardens – Sensory Garden

NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island – Fish, Filter, Food: The Human-Oyster Connection Exhibit

The source page features attributed remarks about recent Tourism Impact Grants from George Hockenbury, Director, Avon Property Owners Association; Brendan Medlin, Executive Director, The Elizabethan Gardens; and Larry Warner, Director, NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Across these examples, the comments describe replacing aging Avon oceanfront boardwalks, creating an accessible Sensory Garden shaped around touch, sound, sight, taste and fragrance, and developing the Fish, Filter, Food: The Human-Oyster Connection Exhibit to explain oysters’ ecological and economic importance. The shared themes include gratitude for the Dare County Tourism Board, improved visitor and resident experiences, accessibility, inclusion, coastal education and long-term community benefit.