SOMERSET, SOMERSET COUNTY - 52 local organizations received funds ranging from $300 to $30,000 as part of Somerset County's Hotel Tax Grant, which has been fueling the local economy for the last decade.
After a year that saw a number of manufacturing jobs leave the region, the Somerset area is happy to help local businesses.
Summer's Best Two Weeks is a non-profit Christian camp.
Just recently they bought new property allowing them to stay open year round.
"For us it provides something that we have that's going to be a long term facility for us," Summer's Best Two Weeks Executive Director Kent Biery says.
The group was one of 52 local organizations to get funds from Somerset's Hotel Tax Grant.
"52 folks received resources to dream a little bit and say 'Hey how can we as an organization expand what we're doing and attract people to this region?' Biery says.
The $3,000 grant to Summer's Best Two Weeks may not sound like much, but they say those funds will go a long way in promoting their new facilities.
Sending a direct mail and kind of trumpeting this property to people is really significant so you can stretch those dollars.
The grants are meant to help continue to grow Somerset's tourism industry. Something they need now that other jobs are gone.
"It's a great shot in the arm because it is jobs and the jobs are year round jobs," Somerset Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ron Aldom Says.
In the 10 years since the grant was created about $7 million has been given to local organizations.
After a year that saw a number of manufacturing jobs leave the region, the Somerset area is happy to help local businesses.
Summer's Best Two Weeks is a non-profit Christian camp.
Just recently they bought new property allowing them to stay open year round.
"For us it provides something that we have that's going to be a long term facility for us," Summer's Best Two Weeks Executive Director Kent Biery says.
The group was one of 52 local organizations to get funds from Somerset's Hotel Tax Grant.
"52 folks received resources to dream a little bit and say 'Hey how can we as an organization expand what we're doing and attract people to this region?' Biery says.
The $3,000 grant to Summer's Best Two Weeks may not sound like much, but they say those funds will go a long way in promoting their new facilities.
Sending a direct mail and kind of trumpeting this property to people is really significant so you can stretch those dollars.
The grants are meant to help continue to grow Somerset's tourism industry. Something they need now that other jobs are gone.
"It's a great shot in the arm because it is jobs and the jobs are year round jobs," Somerset Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ron Aldom Says.
In the 10 years since the grant was created about $7 million has been given to local organizations.
