TOURISM GRANTS APPROVED

Ten tourism development grants totaling $26,829 were approved by a vote of 11-0 (four Board members were absent). The funds, derived from Tompkins County’s tax on hotel and motel rooms, were granted to:

$4,000 - Dewitt Historical Society, edu-tourism programs

$4,000 - Greater Ithaca Arts Trail

$2,829 - New York Folklore Society, "Finn Funn" event

$4,000 - Ithaca Festival, winter Ski Marathon

$2,500 - Chamber of Commerce, sport fishing video

$1,000 - Community Arts Partnership, Ithaca Artists’ Market

$2,500 - Kitchen/Hangar theatres, summer promotion

$2,000 - Women’s Community Center, antique show

$3,000 - Cayuga Nature Center, "Treetops 2000" observation deck

$1,000 – Center for Environmental Sustainability, Earth Day events

In addition, money previously set aside for local celebrations was granted to the following:

$3,500 - Cooperative Extension, Farm-City Day

$3,500 - Trumansburg Chamber of Commerce, Festival of Lights

$3,000 - Southside Community Center, Juneteenth celebration

About $7,000 in celebrations funding remains available this year to local municipalities and organizations who wish to apply. The grant decisions, intended to be the responsibility of the newly-formed Strategic Tourism Planning Board, were made this year by the County’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee because tourism board had not yet met. Media contact: Rep. Stuart Stein, 273-3500
 
 

FIRST QUARTER SALES TAX RETURNS UP

County Finance Director David Squires announced to the Board that first-quarter sales tax returns are up by about $330,000. The increase is based on an adjustment from a previous period and so is not a good indicator of increased commercial activity, but Squires nevertheless said the increase was a welcome surprise. Media contact: David Squires, County Finance Department, 274-5545