Tourism grants available in Bartholomew County

The Columbus Area Visitors Center is offering grants to tax-exempt organizations helping to draw tourists to the community.

According to the center, there is $7,500 remaining from the latest round of tourism development grants. The grants are available to groups that create new tourism attractions and programs or enhance current ones, and encourage collaboration in those efforts.

The board of directors of the Visitors Center has a subcommittee which evaluates the grant requests.

Previous projects that have used the funds include the 6th Street Arts Alley, Jolie Crider Memorial Skate Park, and the restoration of the Charlie 119 cargo plane at the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum.

The funding comes from the county’s Innkeeper’s Tax, a tax paid by visitors to the community through room rentals.

Applications for the remaining funds will be awarded to tax-exempt organizations on a first-come first-served basis or until the funds run out. The funds will be awarded through Nov. 30th.

You can find information on applying for the grants at https://columbus.in.us/grants-info/