Twice a year the board members of the Boone County Convention & Visitors Bureau meet to award grant monies to County-based, not-for-profit organizations who sponsor tourism events or maintain/enhance tourism attractions and have put forward grant applications that meet the requirements of the process.
Grant applications were received from fourteen different groups, with twelve receiving funding during the first grant cycle from the BooneCCVB. The twice annual grant program is designed to offer financial assistance to non-profit organizations holding events or developing and improving venues in Boone County with the purpose of attracting out-of-county visitors.
I always enjoy these meetings as we get to meet the men and women who volunteer countless hours to put on the festivals, events, attractions and shows that make Boone County the tourism destination it is today.
From the Brick Street Gallery Walk in Zionsville to the Lebanon Symphony at Sunset, our local not-for-profit organizations are the lifeblood of Boone County tourism. Without their tireless efforts, 95% of the tourism based events in Boone County would cease to exist.
So you might better understand why it’s like Christmas for the board members of the BooneCCVB to see these organization be rewarded and awarded the monies they need to help keep their events going and growing. A BooneCCVB grant is also a recognition by your fellow citizens that your organization is important and relevant to our tourism efforts.
You also learn a lot about all of Boone County when the applicants are explaining their particular event. Did you know that the Howard County Schoolhouse project has received national landmark recognition? Or that the Lebanon Community Arts Council is sponsoring a calendar of local events that include everything from poetry readings to truly unique art events all year long? And the popular band, The Marlins, is playing For Free at the Zionsville July 4th celebration?
A BooneCCVB grant award meeting also lets you know Boone County tourism is growing; with increased attendance, new features and big plans unveiled by many of the organizations that night. Boone County’s always been an easy place to access with our major highways, and today more travelers are staying closer to home, going for a weekend getaway or a day of fun for the whole family. Which makes us a great choice as their tourist destination.
The mission of the BooneCCVB is to attract visitors through various media marketing campaigns and help to develop tourist attractions that bring more visitors to the county which in turn enhances the quality of life for all residents and greatly contributes to the overall economic growth of Boone County.
That being said, during our grant funding meetings we are reminded that partnering with our outstanding Boone County organizations in their various festivals and events is the most important first step to take every year as we promote tourism – right here, in the Heart of It All!
By the way, we’ve updated the BooneCCVB website – www.boonecvb.com – with all the latest 2010 Things to Do on our calendars. Take a look and plan your own Boone County discovery trip. And thanks for visiting our blog!
