The Tompkins County Legislature recently awarded $177,000 in 2017 Tourism Capital Grants (Click here for a list of projects awarded grants). The Tourism Capital Grants are funded by Tompkins County room occupancy tax dollars. These grants focus on large, tourist/visitor generating not-for-profit or public-purpose projects such as museums, performance venues, the Farmers Market, and other major cultural and recreational venues. Funds may be used for design and installation of large-scale capital projects, or for related feasibility studies. This year there are a record nine awardees, developing projects valued at nearly $2 million.
TCAD administrates the program for the County. Program Administrator, and TCAD Vice President Martha Armstrong says: “The initial review committee has a strong mix of business leaders selected by TCAD for their knowledge of business development and the risks of large capital undertakings, and then members of the Strategic Tourism Planning Board (STPB) who can assess the proposals’ specific tourism values and goals.” The committee’s recommendations are reviewed by the entire STPB with final approval coming from the Tompkins County Legislature.
