GREENSBURG (Dec. 9, 2024) – Forty-seven Westmoreland County tourism-related businesses and organizations were awarded a combined total of $ 548,248 during a presentation Monday at The Palace Theatre. Seventy-five applications were submitted for this year’s program.
The annual Westmoreland County Tourism Grant Program is funded by revenues generated by the Westmoreland County Hotel Room Tax. Awards are granted annually on the basis of merit as determined by the Grant Review Committee and administered by the Westmoreland County Commissioners and GO Laurel Highlands, the county’s official destination marketing organization.
Since the program’s inception, $8,118,585 has been awarded in tourism grants. A complete list of grant recipients and their projects will be available online at www.golaurelhighlands.com/grants.
“The annual tourism grants provide an opportunity to support our tourism assets that anchor our region and spur marketing dollars into businesses that are becoming established within our Westmoreland County footprint,” said Ann Nemanic, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands. “It is never an easy task for the review committee, but they are confident the marketing dollars awarded this year will be an important part of the economic growth and sustainability of tourism in the county. Bringing new and repeat visitors to the Laurel Highlands remains of paramount importance in 2025.”
The Westmoreland County Tourism Grant Review Committee was comprised of Matt Hegan, general manager of Oak Lodge; Shari Martino, Kyli Stoner and Brian Merdian, each of whom was appointed by the board of commissioners; and Ann Nemanic, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands.