Clinton County Tourism/Recreation Grants announced

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Economic Partnership’s Tourist Promotion Agency, in collaboration with the Clinton County Commissioners and County Planning Department, on Thursday announced the award of $75,000 in grants through the Clinton County Tourism/Recreation Grant program.

In all, 25 area nonprofits, municipalities and businesses will receive grant funds to carry out events and initiatives designed to promote, develop and expand local tourist and recreational assets and attract visitors to Clinton County.

The grant awards were announced at the Clinton County Commissioners meeting. Economic Partnership tourism director Julie Brennan and Matt Croak with the Clinton County Planning Department said the grants committee is happy to be able to support the efforts of these local groups.

“We feel like we’ve stepped up the grant program to a new level this year,” said Brennan, noting that the $75,000 funding is the highest amount in the program’s history. In addition, Brennan said the program was expanded to include for-profit businesses in addition to nonprofits and municipalities.

“We received a total of 28 grant applications, requesting nearly $400,000, so there were some difficult decisions made,” said Brennan, noting that, unfortunately, requests always exceed available funds.

Of the grants awarded, Croak said the projects and activities represent an overall planned investment of about $530,000 into the Clinton County community
.
2023 Clinton County Tourism/Recreation Grant recipients include:
– ABSOLUTELY! Theatre and Fundraising – $1,000 to help establish a Lock Haven Fringe Fest;
– Brick and Barn Estate – $1,000 – promotional support for an historic 1801 farmhouse in Pine Creek Township as a guesthouse;
– Budstock, Inc. – $1,000 in support of the Budstock music festival in Renovo;
– Castanea Township (Recreation Committee) – $500 in promotional support for Castanea Community Day;
– Central Mountains ATV Association – $3,300 in promotional and marketing support;
– Citizens Hose Company, South Renovo – $1,000 – promotional support for a concert during Flaming Foliage weekend;
– City of Lock Haven – $5,000 to support the Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series;
– Clinton County Arts Council – $5,000 for marketing of the Lock Haven JAMS Festival and Station Gallery programming;
– Clinton Country Club – $3,500 for regional marketing of the golf course;
– Clinton County Fair Association – $5,000 to support upgrades to the public address system at the Fairgrounds;
– Clinton County Fair Association-Speedway – $5,000 in promotional support for the Speedway;
– Clinton County Historical Society – $1,000 to support marketing of the Wine in the Wilds festival;
– Clinton County Historical Society – $9,000 to support restoration of a second caboose for use as an overnight rental at the former Castanea Train Station;
– Clinton County Recreational Authority – $1,000 in marketing support for Belles Springs Golf Course;
– CRAAZE, LLC – $1,500 in marketing support for a retreat/overnight venue in Bald Eagle Township;
– Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. – $4,000 in marketing support for downtown events;
– Hope 4 Hayze – $3,200 in marketing support for the Truckers 4 Hope semi truck show;
– Kettle Creek Music Festival – $3,000 in promotional support for the festival;
– Millbrook Playhouse – $6,500 for marketing and promotional support for this year’s performance season;
– Mill Hall Borough – $5,000 to support upgrades to the community pool;
– Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival – $2,000 for a promotional messaging project at the Flaming Foliage Lot in Renovo;
– Pine Creek Seed Farm, LLC – $500 to support marketing of the Pine Creek Seed Farm Corn Maze;
– Piper Aviation Museum – $1,000 to support signage at the Museum grounds;
– ReVibe Outdoors – $3,000 in support for the Little Loggers Trail Fest; and
– The Jaycees – $4,000 for promotion and marketing of the annual Labor Day Regatta;

Funding for the Clinton County Tourism/Recreation Grant Program comes from the county’s hotel tax paid by those who stay overnight in local lodging establishments. The tax is passed through from the County to the Tourist Promotion Agency.

Questions about the grant program can be directed to Brennan at 570-748-5782 or tourismdirector@clintoncountyinfo.com, or Croak at 570-893-4080, ext. 3, or mcroak@clintoncountypa.gov.