SEVEN SPRINGS, Pa., (Dec. 7, 2021) – Thirty-six Somerset County tourism-related businesses and organizations were awarded a combined total of $462,740 during a presentation today at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Thirty-nine applications were submitted for this year’s program.
The annual Somerset County Tourism Grant Program is funded by revenues generated by the Somerset County Lodging tax. Awards are granted annually on the basis of merit as determined by the Somerset County Tourism Grant Review Committee and administered by the Somerset County Commissioners and GO Laurel Highlands, the county’s official destination marketing organization. Since the program’s inception, more than $6 million has been awarded in tourism grants. A full list of grant recipients and their projects can be viewed online at www.golaurelhighlands.com/grants.
“Somerset County is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast and that aspect of the Laurel Highlands tourism product continues to grow,” said Ann Nemanic, Executive Director, GO Laurel Highlands. “The four seasons the region offers are anchored in Somerset County with our ski resorts. Add in snowmobile trails, ATV trails, hiking, biking, and fishing and we offer a complete package of outdoor activities. The Somerset County Commissioners have always been stewards of tourism and that continues with a robust grant cycle for this year. I am excited to see awards to spur even more experiences for visitors to the Laurel Highlands.”
Grant review committee members included: Commissioner Colleen Dawson; Eric Mauck, CEO of Seven Springs Mountain Resort; George Coyle, General Manager of Somerset Med Services; John Weir of PBS Coals; and Kristin Ecker, Senior Director of Marketing for GO LH.
About Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh, the beautiful four-season destination offers spectacular natural scenery, outstanding outdoor recreation, historic sites and attractions, family activities, and world-class resorts. Notable destinations within the region include four architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater®, Kentuck Knob, Mäntylä and Duncan House – Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Flight 93 National Memorial, Idlewild and Soak Zone, whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park, and more.
Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington D.C., Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands can be easily accessed from exits 67, 75, 91, and 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Visitors to the Laurel Highlands can find information online at www.GoLaurelHighlands.com, calling 724.238.5661, www.facebook.com/laurelhighlandsPA and www.twitter.com/laurelhighlands. Established in 1958, GO Laurel Highlands, formerly known as Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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