Municipal Tourism Grant Program

Municipal Tourism Grant Program is a grant from Orange County, NY that funds local municipalities seeking to boost tourism, enhance visitor experiences, and strengthen the local economy through tourism-related projects. Administered by the Orange County Tourism and Film Office, the program reinvests tourism revenue back into communities that host visitors and support the county's hospitality industry.

Eligible applicants are municipalities in Orange County, NY. The 2025 program was announced in February 2025; award amounts vary by project scope and are determined through the application process.

News Flash • Orange County, NY • CivicEngage Schedule a DMV appointment Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The original item was published from 2/20/2025 4:55:00 PM to 2/20/2025 4:56:41 PM.

Posted on: February 20, 2025 [ARCHIVED] Boosting Local Economy: 2025 Municipal Tourism Grant Program Announced Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and the County’s Tourism and Film Office are pleased to announce the Municipal Tourism Grant Program for 2025. This initiative provides municipalities with the opportunity to apply for funding.

These funds can assist in the planning and execution of tourism events that attract visitors and stimulate local economies. &#34These grants provide valuable assistance to our cities, towns, and villages, enabling them to promote and highlight some of the great events they offer throughout the year,&#34 Neuhaus said, also noting this is our third year with the program.

&#34Orange County has many popular events that generate interest and revenue, and this Grant Program allows us to show our support and invest in our communities. We look forward to receiving many applications from our municipalities and will continue to promote our beautiful County. &#34 In 2024, 27 municipalities across Orange County received funding through this program, supporting a variety of successful events.

Notable among them was the City of Middletown&#39s Run 4 Downtown, a multi-day event which drew over 4,500 attendees, including race day participants, spectators, and concert attendees. “The Municipal Tourism Grant Program has been a real asset to the City of Middletown in 2024, specifically for the Run 4 Downtown event,” said Joe DeStefano, Mayor of the City of Middletown.

“I look forward to applying for this grant this year and want to thank the County for providing the opportunity to grow our events that ultimately attract thousands of visitors to our City. ” Other notable events that brought in thousands of event-goers include: the Village of Goshen&#39s Great American Weekend, and the City of Port Jervis’ highly successful Bella Notte Italiana Festival.

(Caption) Bella Notte Italiana Festival, Port Jervis Grants of up to $4,999 will be awarded based on need and application approval. Applications have been distributed to Orange County’s municipal leaders and will be accepted until July 31, 2025.

Eligible municipalities can use the funds for various purposes, including advertising and promotion expenses associated with an event, enhancement of signage and marketing, or website upgrades to make them more user-friendly. Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of economic development and tourism professionals from Orange County.

&#34I am thrilled to collaborate with County Executive Neuhaus, our municipalities, and with the Orange County Legislature to once again promote our County’s amazing events,&#34 said Amanda Dana, Director of Orange County’s Tourism and Film office. &#34These events attract visitors to every corner of our beautiful County and stimulate our local economies.

&#34 For more information about the grants, contact Lisa Santiago in the Orange County Tourism and Film Office at [email protected] or 845-615-3862. To learn more about what County Executive Neuhaus is doing for Orange County, follow Orange County Government and Steven M. Neuhaus on Facebook, @Orange County NY Govt and @steve.

neuhaus on Instagram, and @OCGovNY and @SNeuhausOC on X. You can also watch Neuhaus’ NeuCast podcasts and Leadership Speaker Series on YouTube.

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