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STATE COLLEGE -- The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), in conjunction with the Centre County Board of Commissioners, announced that applications are being accepted for the HVAB's 2024-25 Tourism Grant program beginning Thursday, Feb. 15.
The annual Tourism Grant program funds marketing, tourism development and, in some cases, facility improvement projects designed to generate visitation to Happy Valley -- with a particular emphasis on overnight stays -- and to enhance the overall visitor experience.
"Continuing the trend of robust growth, the 2024-25 grant pool is expected to reach nearly $1 million," said HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith. "This is tremendous news for our ability to support eligible tourism projects at meaningful levels. The health of the grant program is directly related to the strength of Centre County's visitation economy, which is close to being a $1 billion industry."
Smith said last year, a record 73 projects out of 82 applications were funded with a grant pool that topped $840,000.
The HVAB and Commissioners expect another competitive year as new ideas emerge, and as event organizers and other returning applicants take steps to reach new audiences and elevate offerings and assets that benefit visitors and residents alike.
"The size of the grant pool allows for some big thinking, for creativity, for projects that will push visitation's impact over that $1 billion target," Smith said. "We expect 2024 will be another banner year for Happy Valley tourism. We look forward to this year's application process, and to helping our eventual grant recipients realize success with their projects, initiatives and events."
Applications will be accepted until COB Monday, April 15, with funding awarded in late May/early June.
Tourism Grant Marketing Summit
The HVAB will hold a marketing summit exclusively for grant applicants from 8-10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center. (Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.). Email LesleyK@happyvalley.com to attend or for more information. Summit registration deadline is Feb. 28.
More information about the Tourism Grant program, including a link to the online application, will be available on www.happyvalley.com once the grant portal opens on Feb. 15. Grant program questions should be directed to HVABgrantprogram@happyvalley.com.