Visitors Bureau Announces Grant Recipients

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The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau has announced the recipients of funding from the 2018 round of the Room Tax Grant Program.

The tax, commonly known as the Hotel Occupancy Tax, is a state-mandated tax. It is collected by lodging establishments in the Endless Mountains which is paid by their guests. Thirty percent of that tax from each county is put into the room tax grant program to fund tourism-related projects or events. This grant round’s total amount awarded was $163,776.73, which brings the total to over $1.8 million since the program was enacted 14 years ago.

The visitors bureau opens a grant round annually for each of the three counties it represents – Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming. The deadline to submit grant proposals is September 25 each year. Although the visitors bureau is responsible for overseeing the grant program and distribution of the money, the final decision of awarding the money is made by each county’s room tax committee which consists of members of the community and at least one county commissioner.

The 2018 grant recipients are Wyoming County Room Tax Committee, Tunkhannock Public Library, Oldest House-Laceyville Area Historical Society, Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce, Wyoming County Fair, Keystone College, Nicholson Heritage Association, Wyoming County Cultural Center, Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Tunkhannock Business Association, Sullivan County Agricultural Society, Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, Laporte Volunteer Fire Company, Sullivan County Historical Society, Dushore Area Business Association, Pink Arrow Arts Inc., Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association, Greater Forest City Business Alliance, Susquehanna Community Development Association, Montrose Chocolate & Wine Festival, Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company, Brooklyn Historical Society, Harford Agricultural Society, Friends of Salt Springs State Park, Endless Mountains Theatre Company, Montrose Chamber of Commerce, and Montrose Restoration Committee.

Grant pre-applications for the 2019 grant round will be available on the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau’s website (www.EndlessMountains.org) in June. For more information, contact the visitors bureau at 1-800-769-8999.

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