CHAMPION ― Forty-five Somerset County tourism-related companies and organizations have been awarded a report whole of $607,832 throughout a presentation Monday at Seven Springs Mountain Resort.
The annual Somerset County Tourism Grant Program is funded by revenues generated by the Somerset County Lodging Tax. Awards are granted yearly on the premise of benefit as decided by the Somerset County Tourism Grant Evaluate Committee and administered by the Somerset County commissioners and GO Laurel Highlands, the county’s official vacation spot advertising and marketing group. For the reason that program’s inception, $7.18 million has been awarded in tourism grants. A full checklist of grant recipients will probably be out there on-line at www.golaurelhighlands.com/grants.
One of many recipients is Brantview Farms Maple, Berlin.
“The Brants are very completely happy and so appreciative to be a recipient of a 2024 Somerset County Tourism Advertising and marketing Grant. The funds will assist us to achieve 1000’s of holiday makers in our advertising and marketing efforts via print and digital promoting,” stated Rebecca Kuzar. “Our objective is all the time to encourage vacationers to return and keep in our lovely county and luxuriate in the entire historical past and tradition the Laurel Highlands has to supply. This grant allows us to take action far more in spreading this message.”
One other is Somerset Inc.
“That is the biggest sum that we have obtained to date via this grant and we’re so excited to place these {dollars} to work to market SoCo. We’re grateful for the chance to companion with the Laurel Highlands Guests Bureau and completely different group teams to broaden our collective attain and usher individuals off exit 110 and into the Laurel Highlands,” stated Regina Coughenour, govt director of Somerset Inc. “These funds will probably be used to market SoCo via a myriad of various channels together with digital, print, radio, TV and billboard promoting. Somerset County has a lot to supply and it is our privilege to assist unfold that message to individuals seeking to trip in a 4-season down-to-earth vacation spot.”
The vacationers these occasions and companies carry into Somerset County are what helps to fund the grant.
“Somerset County commissioners and GO Laurel Highlands are excited to have the ability to award nearly $610,000 in tourism grants to our companies and nonprofits to advertise, promote and market tourism in Somerset County,” stated Somerset County Commissioner Colleen R. Dawson, who serves on the grant evaluate committee. “The tourism grants, made potential by the resort tax levied on in a single day stays, are primarily funded by out-of-county guests. This infusion of {dollars} is a boon to our recipients with no impact on county taxpayers. Figuring out the large affect of tourism on this county’s economic system, we should all proceed to market Somerset County and all we’ve to supply. To have these {dollars} out there to be injected again into the tourism base is a vital part to our companies being profitable.”
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The mixed whole of $607,832 was a rise of 17.4% from final yr, and the variety of grants awarded rose from 41 to 48. (The Confluence Tourism Affiliation, Meyersdale Space Historic Society and Somerset County Recreation and Trails Affiliation every obtained a advertising and marketing grant and a customer middle grant.) Grant submission requests elevated by three to 51.
Dave Hurst, co-op coordinator for 4 Fall Festivals, stated he appreciates the assistance getting the phrase out about a few Somerset County’s largest festivals.
“Farmers & Threshermens Jubilee and Mountain Craft Days are held on the identical weekend every year. For 17 years now these two Somerset County festivals have labored collectively to pool advertising and marketing assets and a grant from the Somerset County Tourism Grant Program to buy tv and outside promoting they cannot afford by themselves,” he stated. “This brings extra guests in for the weekend to expertise each festivals, keep in native lodging locations and eat in native eating places.”
Along with Dawson, grant evaluate committee members included: George Coyle, common supervisor of Somerset Med Providers; Dave Runco, senior director of lodging operations for Seven Springs/Hidden Valley resorts; John Weir of PBS Coals; and Laura Argenbright, Director of Inventive Technique for GO Laurel Highlands.
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2024 Somerset County Tourism Grant Award recipients
- Benscreek Canoe Membership, $1,000 advertising and marketing grant
- The Benscreek Canoe and Kayak Membership is a gaggle of paddlers established in 1970 with a standard curiosity within the open air and boating specifically. The membership’s objective is solely to advertise the enjoyment, problem, security, and camaraderie of kayaking, canoeing, and watersports. This advertising and marketing grant will probably be used to replace its web site.
- Brantview Farms Maple, $12,088 advertising and marketing grantFor eight generations, the Brant household has been tapping bushes and producing maple syrup and maple merchandise at their 300-acre sugar camp. This advertising and marketing grant will probably be used towards the GO Laurel Highlands Peak Partnership, brochure program, and digital promoting.
- Camp Soles, $5,000 advertising and marketing grantFor greater than 65 years, Camp Soles has welcomed campers to Somerset County to construct friendships, develop private progress, and create lifelong reminiscences. This advertising and marketing grant will assist promote the camp via brochures, print, digital, and social media ads in addition to for GO Laurel Highlands partnership alternatives.
- Consolation Inn of Somerset, $14,525 advertising and marketing grantThe Consolation Inn will use this advertising and marketing grant to advertise its golf packages with Somerset Nation Membership, Northwinds Peninsula Golf Membership, and Northwinds Golf Course. They plan to focus on golfers in Youngstown, Ohio; Harrisburg; and York, Lancaster and Berks counties via radio, coupons, and on-line advertisements.
- Confluence Concierge, $750 advertising and marketing grant
- Confluence Concierge offers the best degree of service to householders, trip householders, and short-term rental homeowners and their company to make sure seamless enjoyment of their properties. Providers embody housekeeping, amenity replenishments, laundry providers, welcome baskets, and seasonal adorning. The grant will probably be used for brochure design.
- Confluence Cyclery, $1,125
- A full-service bike store, Confluence Cyclery strives to supply excellent customer support and worth to cyclists alongside the Nice Allegheny Passage (GAP) and past. The Cyclery sells new and used bikes, and providers, repairs, and rents bikes. The grant will probably be used for digital and social media advertising and marketing.
- Confluence Pumpkinfest, $2,380 advertising and marketing grant
- Every year, the Confluence Volunteer Fireplace Co. presents Pumpkinfest to lift funds for the hearth division. This advertising and marketing grant will probably be used for the printing of brochures and distribution via the GO LH brochure program, a highlight itemizing within the GO LH calendar of occasions, and radio promoting.
- Confluence Tourism Affiliation, $1,882 advertising and marketing grant and $13,210.50 customer middle grantFashioned to advertise tourism within the higher Confluence and southern Somerset County space, the affiliation will use these funds to advertise Confluence’s lodging, eating, recreation venues, and particular occasions. They plan to promote with American Biking Affiliation’s Journey Bike owner and on Fb. The affiliation has been awarded a customer middle grant to fund its City Criers Program, which serves as a cellular customer middle.
- Farmers and Threshermen’s Jubilee, $15,310 advertising and marketing grant
- Run by the New Centerville & Rural Volunteer Fireplace Co., the jubilee is a five-day occasion held yearly in early September. The jubilee, which attracts guests from all around the United States, simply accomplished its 67th yr. Grant funds will probably be used to market the jubilee via radio, print, digital, and outside promoting.
- Fernwalk Cottage, $2,416
- Fernwalk is a trip rental situated in Addison. This lodging facility’s mission is to draw and introduce new company to the Laurel Highlands and deal with them to the best degree of service to make sure return visits. Advertising and marketing grant funds will help a focused marketing campaign in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Delaware Valley.
- Forbes Path Brewing, $3,836 advertising and marketing grant
- Forbes Path Brewing is a microbrewery in Stoystown that brews high-quality craft beers in small batches with a continuously altering faucet checklist. The brewery strives to create a welcoming family-friendly and pet-friendly surroundings the place individuals can go to and spend time. Grant funds will probably be used to turn out to be a peak companion with GO Laurel Highlands and to promote within the 2024 Vacation spot Information in addition to take part within the brochure distribution program.
- Mates of Flight 93 Nationwide Memorial, $43,141 advertising and marketing grantThe Mates of Flight 93 Nationwide Memorial is the official nonprofit supporting companion of the Nationwide Park Service, which tells the heroic story of Flight 93. The group has been awarded a advertising and marketing grant for print, tourism partnerships, digital, and billboard promoting in addition to web site updates.
- Nice Allegheny Passage Conservancy, $25,356 advertising and marketing grantPreviously the Allegheny Path Alliance, the conservancy stewards and promotes the GAP, which brings guests from 50 states and 35 international locations every year to the Laurel Highlands. The conservancy has been awarded funds for important print, digital, commerce present and information promoting, to reinforce its web site, and implement path analytics. Advertising and marketing focuses on Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia to drive in a single day stays.
- Hartzell Home Mattress and Breakfast Inc., $8,350 advertising and marketing grant
- Hartzell Home is an upscale mattress and breakfast situated within the southern Laurel Highlands that caters to vacationers who need a higher measure of private service, consolation and facilities, gourmand eating and dietary restriction consideration. Grant funds will probably be used for web site updating and brochure manufacturing.
- Highlands Ventures, $17,500 advertising and marketing grant
- Highlands Ventures provides recreation and lodging alternatives for all 4 seasons. Golf and sporting clay taking pictures, two of their function sights, draw almost 300,000 people per yr. As well as, Highlands Ventures has first-class eating, in addition to cabins for in a single day stays. This grant award will probably be dedicated to digital promoting and an Audacy Radio marketing campaign overlaying the Pittsburgh area.
- Hillegas Sugar Camp LLC, $2,387 advertising and marketing grant
- This sugar camp produces Pure Pennsylvania Maple Syrup effectively and with the best high quality requirements. Over the previous 30 years, the operation has grown to 9,000 faucets situated on White Horse Mountain Farm. The grant funds will probably be used towards social media advertising and marketing and brochure manufacturing.
- Historic and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, Inc., $8,861 advertising and marketing grant
- A nonprofit, the Historic and Genealogical Society of Somerset County is the guardian, educator, and presenter of Somerset County’s Cultural Heritage. As “Western Pennsylvania’s Rural Heritage Museum” the middle is the area’s premier historic attraction the place vacationers uncover the relevance of historical past of their lives via its packages and collections. The funding supplied will help brochures, tv, radio and print promoting.
- Hurst Media Works—4 Fall Festivals, $5,695 advertising and marketing grant
- 4 Fall Festivals is the advertising and marketing marketing campaign for Farmers and Threshermen’s Jubilee of New Centerville, Mountain Craft Days of Somerset, Ligonier Highland Video games at Idlewild Park, and Stahlstown Flax Scutching Pageant of Stahlstown. The cooperative spans two counties and two tourism-grant packages, so it’s introduced collectively and represented by Dave Hurst of Hurst Media Group. Funds awarded are used for outside promoting, cable, web site updates, and digital advertising and marketing.
- Worldwide Conservation Middle of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, $14,000 advertising and marketing grant
- The ICC connects individuals to wildlife, inspiring our communities to preserve nature for future generations. Situated on roughly 1,000 acres close to Fairhope, the ICC is North America’s premier conservation, analysis, training, breeding, and coaching facility, specializing within the care and breeding of African elephants. The ICC is the one middle of its variety and allows the Pittsburgh Zoo to play a significant management position in addressing the wants for breeding the African elephant inhabitants in North America.
- Ivory Buck Boutique, $1,000 advertising and marketing grant
- Ivory Buck is a retailer situated in Salisbury that carries clothes in addition to males’s and ladies’s cowboy boots, residence décor, and equipment. The store will use its grant funding for social media advertising and marketing.
- Jennerstown Speedway, $48,417 advertising and marketing grantOne of many oldest brief tracks in the US, Jennerstown Speedway will make the most of this grant for a multi-faceted promoting marketing campaign to advertise the speedway’s 2024 schedule of occasions.
- Levi Deal Mansion B&B, $6,419 advertising and marketing grantA luxurious inn situated in Meyersdale, whose guests are predominantly Nice Allegheny Passage path customers, the Levi Deal Mansion will use this advertising and marketing grant for print and digital ads, in addition to web site enhancements, brochures, and video advertising and marketing.
- Luxelife Holidays, $5,459 advertising and marketing grantLuxelife provides upscale trip leases with all of the “little extras” at an reasonably priced worth to draw clients who return yr after yr. Every property is thoughtfully arrange with our company in thoughts to supply a soothing and satisfying trip. The advertising and marketing grant funding will probably be used for web site upgrades and GO Laurel Highlands partnership advertising and marketing alternatives.
- Maple Metropolis Tractor Membership, $332
- The tractor membership showcases the agricultural trade in Somerset County by producing a tractor present every year. The present attracts households with tractor pulls and extra. The funds will probably be used for print advertisements.
- Maple Leaf Outfitters, $2,347 advertising and marketing grantMaple Leaf Outfitters, based mostly in Meyersdale, offers hikers and bikers on the GAP with outside journey planning. That features scheduling, shelter reservations, camp set-up, transportation for gear and private belongings, and journey provisions to supply guests with a hassle-free expertise. These grant funds will probably be used for web site enhancements and path information digital advertisements.
- Meyersdale Space Historic Society, $2,658 advertising and marketing grant & Customer Middle Grant, $36,398.Integrated in 1993, the Meyersdale Space Historic Society promotes the event of curiosity, appreciation, preservation and analysis into the world’s historical past. The aim is to function the Guests Middle on the Meyersdale Western Maryland railway station, which it stabilized over the previous 10 years. The grant funds will probably be used for GO Laurel Highlands partnership advertising and marketing alternatives and to cowl part-time seasonal worker prices on the Customer Middle.
- Mountain Ridge Trails Resort, $55,303 advertising and marketing grantThe most important privately owned ATV path system in Pennsylvania, Mountain Ridge Trails Resort has greater than 100 miles of trails on 2,500 acres for ATV, UTV, and dust bike fans. The resort will use this award for outside promoting, print ads, radio, out-of-market commerce reveals and digital advertising and marketing.
- On Level Journey Meals, $1,237 advertising and marketing grant
- On Level Journey Meals is a dynamic freeze-dried meals firm devoted to offering revolutionary and flavorful merchandise to customers. We focus on freeze-dried meals, starting from home-cooked meals to all kinds of snacks for outside fans. The objective is to make nutritious meals with actual home-cooked elements out there to the outside group. Grant funds will probably be used for brochure manufacturing.
- Patriot Park Basis, $8,094 advertising and marketing grantPatriot Park provides a spot to honor, keep in mind, and thank members of the US Armed Forces who’ve served since Sept. 11, 2001. This grant award will probably be used to advertise the positioning via digital and print ads, and brochures.
- Pennsylvania Maple Pageant, $10,911 advertising and marketing grant1000’s of holiday makers head to Meyersdale every spring for one among Pennsylvania’s sweetest festivals and to study Somerset County’s maple sugar trade. The group is receiving a advertising and marketing grant to advertise the pageant through brochure distribution and print, radio, and digital ads in and round jap Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, Maryland, and northern Virginia.
- Quecreek Mine Rescue Web site, $1,290 advertising and marketing grantPractically 20 years after the miraculous rescue of 9 trapped miners, the occasions that happened at Quecreek stay related immediately. The muse is receiving a advertising and marketing grant for brochure distribution, digital, and outside promoting.
- Keep in mind Me Rose Backyard, $2,265 advertising and marketing grantA tranquil 13-acre sanctuary created to honor the lives misplaced on Sept. 11, 2001, the Keep in mind Me Rose Backyard will spend these grant funds on advertising and marketing the backyard via brochures, digital and social advertisements.
- September 11th Nationwide Memorial Path Alliance, $750 advertising and marketing grant
- The September 11th Nationwide Memorial Path Alliance is striving to construct a world-class expertise developed as a path of remembrance to honor those that gave their all for freedom on Sept. 11, 2001; for his or her households and first responders; and for generations earlier than them who sacrificed to guard our freedom and American values. The alliance will make the most of its funds for Fb and print advertisements.
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort, $70,375 advertising and marketing grant
- Seven Springs, a Vail Resort property, has been a staple for tourism in Somerset County since opening in 1937. The winter focus is on snowboarding, snowboarding and snow tubing. Nevertheless, all through the summer season months, Seven Springs provides quite a lot of summer season actions, established festivals and occasions, and quite a lot of eating experiences. The grant award will fund a complete advertising and marketing marketing campaign to advertise the summer season occasions and improve in a single day stays.
- Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, $28,535 advertising and marketing grant
- Representing greater than 600 companies and organizations, the chamber has been devoted to rising the county’s economic system for greater than 100 years. The chamber is receiving this advertising and marketing grant for promoting alternatives together with print and digital ads, seasonal billboards, and brochure creation and distribution to market the county year-round.
- Somerset County Truthful Affiliation, $16,621 advertising and marketing grant
- The Somerset County Truthful’s mission is to have fun our group’s agricultural heritage, native expertise, and family-friendly leisure. In its 124th yr, the honest showcases a various vary of displays similar to livestock, horticulture, arts, and crafts. The grant funds will make a full promoting marketing campaign potential together with print, radio, outside, social, and digital advertising and marketing.
- Somerset County Recreation and Trails Affiliation, $6,190 advertising and marketing grant, $12,690 customer middle grant
- Then often called Somerset County Rails to Trails Affiliation, SCRTA started in 1991 with a giant mission – to finish the Nice Allegheny Passage from the Mason-Dixon Line to Confluence and Ohiopyle State Park. The group is now the steward of these 43 miles which have turn out to be some of the standard and most scenic components of the passage. The customer middle grant will probably be used to cowl worker wages.
- Somerset, Inc., $25,156 advertising and marketing grantOne of many oldest and longest-running Principal Road packages within the state, Somerset Inc. will use this advertising and marketing grant to advertise visits to uptown Somerset, the SoCo initiative, and its occasions schedule via brochure distribution, print, radio, tv, and digital ads.
- Sugar Grove Antiques, $9,978 advertising and marketing grantA multi-dealer vintage mall, Sugar Grove Antiques will use this advertising and marketing grant for brochures, maps, billboards and print advertisements.
- Sunshine Baggage Shuttle, $5,529 advertising and marketing grantSunshine Baggage Shuttle was created to assist vacationers by offering a worry-free solution to expertise the GAP with out the effort of hauling baggage. The shuttle service has obtained this grant for brochure improvement and distribution, in addition to print and digital advertising and marketing initiatives.
- Tall Pines Distillery, $15,183 advertising and marketing grantA small “grain-to-glass” expertise in Salisbury, Tall Pines Distillery is Somerset County’s first authorized distillery since Prohibition. This grant award will probably be invested in billboard signage, rack playing cards and social media promoting.
- The Lodge at Indian Lake, $24,267 advertising and marketing grant
- The Lodge at Indian Lake is a singular rustic marriage ceremony venue vacation spot with visitor rooms and trendy facilities. Lodge visitor rooms overlook the Northwinds Golf Course, and The Northwinds Peninsula Golf Membership is lower than two miles away. The lodge will put advertising and marketing funds to work via social media, print, and digital promoting.
- Trailhead Brewing Co., $1,687 advertising and marketing grant
- Trailhead is an unbiased brewery situated in Rockwood, simply off the GAP Path. Primarily catering to these touring alongside the GAP path, the brewery provides quite a lot of in-house brewed beer, meals, and leisure. Trailhead will use their advertising and marketing funds for GO Laurel Highlands advertising and marketing alternatives.
- Yoder’s Visitor Home, $8,042 advertising and marketing grantOne of many oldest buildings and latest lodging lodging in Meyersdale, Yoder’s Visitor Home will make the most of these funds for path information advertisements, GO Laurel Highlands advertising and marketing, Journey Advisor, and digital advertisements.
- Yough Mountain Home, $1,875 advertising and marketing grant
- Yough Mountain Home is made up of two separate rental properties: Yough Mountain Home and Yough Nest Bungalow. The Yough Mountain Home is situated one mile from the Youghiogheny River, and two miles away from the Nice Allegheny Passage bike path. The Yough Nest Bungalow is situated in Confluence. The property will use the grant to fund supporting partnerships and map advertisements with GO Laurel Highlands.
