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Kudos to the Clinton County Tourist Promotion Agency, county commissioners and county planners for the combined strategy to enhance and expand the annual tourism-recreation grant program.
As reported in The Express on Jan. 13, the TPA is enhancing the grant program as follows:
– For-profit businesses that promote tourism and recreation will be able to seek grant funds, although those awards are limited to supporting promotion and advertising.
– The 2023 program has earmarked $75,000 for grants, the highest amount ever allocated. Funds for the program come from monies collected through the county's Hotel Tax, paid by those who stay overnight at local lodging establishments. The tax is passed from the county to the Tourist Promotion Agency to support tourist promotion.
– All applicants will use a new online application developed by the county planning department. The online application, as well as guidelines and reporting requirements for the Tourism/Recreation Grant Program, is available through the Clinton County Government website at: https://www.clintoncountypa.gov/departments/funding-opportunities.
Applications for the grant program will be accepted through Feb. 28.
A grant committee then reviews all applications, with awards expected to be announced in March.
Organizations, municipalities and businesses with questions about the grant program can contact Matt Croak in the Clinton County Planning Office at 570-893-4080, ext. 3 or mcroak@clintoncountypa.com, or Brennan at 570-748-5782 or tourismdirector@clintoncountyinfo.com.
Why shouldn't for-profit business be able to apply for grant funds to help their businesses?
Important followup to the spending of all grant funds is so important to solidify accountability.
It's up to the grant committee to smartly choose those projects and strategies -- whether from nonprofits or private businesses -- that have the most impact on bringing visitors here.
That, after all, is the mission.
We are among the loudest promoters of our area as a great place to live.
More people need to experience "us" … that is our charming communities, beautiful landscapes and rural character that make for a better pace in life.