The CVVB is pleased to announce the fifth installment of the annual Tourism Grant Cycle.

Cumberland Valley, PA (May 14, 2013) - The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau (CVVB) has awarded nearly $148,000 in grants to 30 organizations representing heritage, culture, agriculture and experiential tourism since 2010. The CVVB is pleased to announce the fifth installment of the annual Tourism Grant Cycle.

Up to $50,000 of the Cumberland Valley's Lodging Tax will be designated for a grant program this summer that will support five strategic areas of interest. Those areas are: Advertising in CVVB Target Markets of Baltimore and Washington D.C., Experiential Brochure Printing, Media Development/ Improvements to Support Marketing Efforts, Signage Program, and Tour Creation/ Tourism Product Development.

In addition to the five areas of interest, special consideration will be placed on grants concerning nature-based tourism. This includes agritourism, outdoor recreation and trails. This round of grants has been aligned with the South Mountain Partnership Mini-Grant Program. If applicants meet the requirements of both grant programs they may use the other grant as matching funds. View the South Mountain Partnership Mini-Grant Program here.

In order to be eligible to participate in the CVVB grant program, applicants must be located in Cumberland County, PA or be a pre-approved out-of-county partner (for consideration you should contact the CVVB prior to submitting an application), be a for-profit or not-for-profit enterprise, and meet eligibility criteria established for the five areas of interest. The applicant must be able to match each grant dollar by half and requests may not exceed $10,000. Applicants must also submit the 2013 Summer Grant Application within the time frames below.

2013 Summer Grant Program Timeline:

*The conference will be held in the Kings Gap Room at the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation's administrative offices at 2 p.m. The address is 53 W. South Street, Suite 1, Carlisle PA 17013.

Awards are granted on the basis of merit and determined by an independent Grant Review Panel. This grant program is funded and administered by the CVVB.

Examples of what the CVVB will fund and will not fund, criteria, application and all other details are included in the 2013 Summer Tourism Grant Application.

If you have any further questions about the 2013 Summer Grant Program please contact Ashley Kurtz, at (717) 240-7192 or akurtz@visitcumberlandvalley.com.

The mission of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau is to promote Cumberland Valley as a tourist destination, attract visitors to the area, enhance the visitor's experience, and to encourage and promote overnight stays.