by Frances Sack

The Board of Trustees of the Middletown CVB announced its annual grants to 10 Middletown area organizations totaling close to $40,000.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau makes grant awards each year to non-profit and for profit groups presenting programs and events that draw visitors to Middletown from outside the area. Grant money is to be used for promotion and publicity to attract visitors to Middletown and impact the local economy.

The Middletown CVB mission is to directly impact the Middletown economy by assisting local groups and businesses that bring new entertainment and hospitality dollars into Middletown and our area. People from other communities who come here to buy admission tickets to local events, eat in local restaurants, stay in Middletown hotels, shop in retain stores or buy a tank of gasoline all add to the Middletown economy. Local hotel and motel bed tax dollars support the services provided by the MCVB.  Grant money is taken from the Middletown CVB’s operating budget. The Middletown hotels collect a 3% bed tax on each room rental. A portion of the collected bed tax is channeled through the City of Middletown to the Middletown CVB.

Those organizations receiving grants for 2011 are: Mid USA Ohio Balloon Challenge, $7,500; Middletown Youth Soccer Association, $7,000; MiddFest International $5,500; Light Up Middletown $4,500; Middletown Arts Center, $4,000; Bishop Fenwick High School $3,000; Middletown Lyric Theatre, $2,500; Middletown Symphony Orchestra $2,500; Broad Street Bash, $1,500; and TV Middletown Santa Parade, $1,000.