The Nevada Commission on Tourism has awarded nearly 896 thousand in grants to entities promoting rural Nevada tourism. Projects range from a campaign aimed at highlighting the Great Basin National Heritage Area to the promotion of the new Nevada Backcountry Discovery Route, a south-to-north route on backcountry roads that will pass through rural towns. Lt Governor Mark Hutchison says the Rural Grants Program is one of the most important partnerships between the commission and Nevada’s rural tourism industry., Rural tourism is a $2 billion industry supporting more than 27,000 jobs. Included in the grant package is $10,000 for the Virginia City Tourism Commission to assist with the costs of a national public relations and social media campaign.