Agency announces new tourism grants
The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency (WCTPA) has announced another round of tourism grants for municipalities, businesses and cultural attractions in the county.
The agency has awarded a little more than $500,000 in grants this year. The latest round, totaling $110,300, is designed to boost tourism and marketing initiatives and includes Sarris Candies, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village.
“Tourism is a significant economic driver for Washington County, and these investments demonstrate the diversity of the experiences our county offers visitors,” according to Jeff Kotula, president of the WCTPA, as well as the county’s chamber of commerce. “Whether it is rehabilitating one of our historic covered bridges, improving access to a community trail, promoting a major event, or enhancing an attraction, each project contributes to our ability to attract visitors and encourages them to spend more time in Washington County.”
Capital improvement projects that were approved for grants include $35,000 to support the rehabilitation of the Hughes Covered Bridge in Amwell Township and a walking trail in Donegal Township. Marketing grants were also given for the Washington County Home Show, Donora’s Mon Valley Fall Festival and Carnival and the promotion of a bridge championship at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Racetrack Road in North Strabane.
Kotula said in a news release that Washington County’s tourism economy generated almost $765 million in direct visitor spending in 2024, an increase of 29% over a three-year period, and supported more than 5,600 jobs.
“We believe these tremendous results are a direct result of us working together with our private, public and municipal partners,” Kotula said.
All the recent grants approved by the WCTPA are as follows:
Capital grants
– Amwell Township: $35,000 for rehabilitation of the Hughes Covered Bridge.
– Donegal Township: $30,000 for paving and accessibility improvements to the walking trail at historical park.
– Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: $4,300 for hardware and software upgrades to its trolley simulator exhibit.
Marketing projects
– County Home Shows: $14,000 to promote the 2027 Washington County Home Show through television and radio advertising.
– Donora: $10,000 to promote the inaugural Mon Valley Fall Festival and Carnival at Palmer Park through multimedia advertising.
– DoubleTree by Hilton, North Strabane: $4,000 to promote the American Contract Bridge League Regional Championship through multimedia advertising.
– Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village: $8,000 to promote 2027 visitation via print and digital advertising.
– Sarris Candies: $5,000 to promote factory tours during special events held at the Sarris Candies production facility.