Visit Bucks County (VBC), the official tourism promotion agency for Bucks County, distributed $300,000 to 32 Bucks County nonprofits at the Bucks County Visitor Center in Bensalem Dec. 19.
The Visit Bucks County Tourism Grant program was established 10 years ago to assist in the development and enhancement of not-for-profit tourism initiatives in Bucks County. The program is funded from a portion received from the Bucks County lodging tax assessed to visitors staying overnight in hotels and bed and breakfasts.
Since the inception of the grant program in 2008, Visit Bucks County has distributed more than $4.1 million to 107 organizations. Grant funding is used for advertising, new exhibits, increased signage, restorations, website redesigns, marketing collateral, educational expansions and more.
Previous use of grant funds include capital improvements, such as the restoration of the Thompson Neely Mill at Washington Crossing Historic Park. The program has also assisted in funding the installation of new public exhibitions, including the High Rocks Climbing Wall exhibit at the Bucks County Children’s Museum and The Art of Seating exhibit at the James A. Michener Art Museum.
In addition, grant dollars have supported marketing efforts for events and exhibitions, including Mercer Museum’s “Once Upon A Time: Exploring the World of Fairy Tales,” Bristol Riverside Theatre’s production of “The Rivals” and New Hope Celebrates’ annual Pride events.
Eligible recipients are limited to nonprofits or other entities located in Bucks County that are marketing partners of the tourism office.
Fall 2018 recipients are as follows: African American Museum of Bucks County; Bike Bucks County & Bucks County B&B Association; Bristol Riverside Theatre; Bucks County Audubon Society; Bucks County Children’s Museum; Bucks County Community College Foundation;
Bucks County Wine Trail; Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce; Craven Hall Historical Society; Delaware River Towns; Experience Yardley; Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center; Friends of Washington Crossing Park; Heritage Conservancy; Historical Fallsington, Inc.;
James A. Michener Art Museum; La Fiocco; Lenape Chamber Ensemble; Mercer Museum; New Hope Celebrates - Regional Meeting; New Hope Celebrates - Retro-Scope; New Hope Historical Society; Newtown Arts Co.; Newtown Historic Association;
Pearl S. Buck International; Pennsbury Society-Pennsbury Manor; Quakertown Alive!; TMA Bucks Foundation; Town & Country Players; Twin Rivertown Projects; Tyler Park Center for the Arts; and United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs.
Applications for the next tourism grant are due on April 1. Details regarding the tourism grant application process can be found at visitbuckscounty.com/grants.
Specific questions regarding the grant program can be directed to Visit Bucks County President/COO Jerry Lepping at JerryL@VisitBucksCounty.com.
