Applications now being accepted for 2020-21 HVAB Tourism Grant Program

Since 2002, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), in partnership with Centre County Commissioners, has awarded more than $5 million to local nonprofits and private entities through the HVAB’s annual Tourism Grant Program. Funded by a dedicated allocation of Centre County Lodging Tax revenues, the program provides financial assistance for visitor marketing and/or resource improvements to enhance the overall visitor experience.

The grant program is intended to help bring more visitors – and the accompanying economic benefits – to Happy Valley.

It’s easy to recognize the program’s benefits through high-profile recipients such as Central PA 4th Fest and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. These events attract thousands of visitors to the area year after year – and yet, still have potential to grow. Investments in research have enabled the HVAB to provide festival organizers with a clearer picture of visitor draw. In turn, their marketing dollars can be more effectively targeted to proven feeder markets, as well as to areas ripe for greater awareness and growth.

At the same time, today’s trends in tourism hold promise for the county’s smaller festivals, cultural events and individual community attractions that also receive grant funding.

“Local tourism” is increasing in popularity. More and more, travelers want to experience a destination like a resident would – from exploring local cuisine to local bands and art, to shopping at boutiques and specialty stores.

There is a level of genuineness to events such as the Philipsburg Heritage Festival, the Dutch Fall Festival, Bellefonte Under the Lights, and many others, that are equally as appealing to visitors seeking authenticity when visiting a destination as they are with community residents.

Happy Valley has dynamic tourism assets; the grant program helps articulate this message.

For recipients, the funding can also mean something more. Consider the Howard Volunteer Fire Company’s popular Punkin’ Chunkin.’ As the department’s main fundraising event, attracting more attendees from in and outside of Centre County is what helps it fulfill its critical public protection mission in an increasingly challenging environment for emergency services providers.

“2019 was our first year utilizing the HVAB tourism grant to promote our Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival,” said festival founder George Demchak. “The results were amazing! In the nine years of holding our festival, 2019 was the best attended and the most financially successful.

“I am certain, much of this success is directly connected to the HVAB Tourism Grant.”

For others, the Tourism Grant Program has also helped turn a great event idea into reality. Such is the case with the inaugural Centre Film Festival, held this past October in the beautiful, historic Rowland Theatre in Philipsburg.

“As a native New Yorker and now a local filmmaker, I was thrilled to have the chance to help others discover, as I have, the hidden jewels of Centre County like Phillipsburg and the Rowland Theatre,” said Pearl Gluck, an independent filmmaker, Assistant Professor of Film-Video in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, and Phillipsburg Revitalization Corporation Marketing Committee member. “We are grateful to The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau for giving us the support to stage a weekend-long film experience at Rowland Theatre this past fall.”

For the HVAB, the grant program also helps achieve another of its primary goals: Influence the long-term development of the destination and the brand, ultimately creating a place where people want to live and work, as well as visit.