Applications for the 2025-26 Centre County Tourism Grant program will open on Wednesday, Jan. 15, a month earlier than in past years, according to the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and Centre County Board of Commissioners.
The early start for the application window will allow more time for reviewing and processing the applications, which have increased substantially over the last five years, HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith said.
“The HVAB staff, board and Centre County commissioners are delighted that growing awareness has stimulated so much new and innovative activity, such as the Happy Valley Improv Festival, Centre Film Festival and so many others,” Smith said in a statement. “Strong hotel performance and the collection of the lodging tax from short-term rental properties starting in 2019 greatly increased the pool of funding available to support the program, which may reach the $1 million threshold this year.”
An online application portal at www.happyvalley.com/grant-program will be open until close of business on Feb. 21, and grant awards are expected to be announced in June.
The grant program is administered by the HVAB and the Board of Commissioners and is funded by a portion of the 5% local hotel occupancy tax authorized by the county. Last year, it awarded more than $960,000 to 77 local projects, and since its inception in 2002 has provided $6.6 million to local events, attractions and initiatives designed to boost visitation.
Only nonprofit organizations will be eligible to apply for 2025-26 grants after some exceptions had been made for for-profit entities in recent years.
“The grant program was established to help nonprofit event organizers, museums and other attractions with their marketing and tourism development efforts,” Smith said. “However, due to an influx in for-profit applications for projects that are potentially not eligible under Act 18, the state law that governs the hotel occupancy tax, the decision was made to again limit applications to qualifying nonprofit entities.”
Tourism Grants are intended to drive visitation to the county, with emphasis on overnight stays, Smith said, meaning not all nonprofit organizations or municipalities have projects that meet program guidelines. He noted that increases in hotel revenue directly grows the Tourism Grant program.
“We encourage those considering applying to examine their ask with a visitation impact lens,” he said. “Day trippers are of course valuable to our strong tourism economy. They spend money in our restaurants and shops. But encouraging people to extend their time in Happy Valley is the goal of the grant program.”
The county commissioners said in a joint statement that the grant program has been a boon to the local economy and communities.
“With the Tourism Grant pool anticipated to exceed $1 million, we strongly urge eligible nonprofits to apply,” they wrote. “This program has developed tourism assets over the last 23 years, which benefits not only visitors but also those who call Happy Valley home. Due in part to the Tourism Grant program, the hospitality sector now has over 8,000 employees, which is a record-breaking for Centre County.”
Questions about the 2025-26 Tourism Grant program should be directed to Judy Maurer at [email protected].
