CENTRE COUNTY — Applications for the 2025-26 Tourism Grant program, coordinated by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Centre County Board of Commissioners, will open on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The annual grant program “provides marketing and other support for nonprofit and for-profit cultural, educational, historical and recreational assets in order to enhance the visitor experience and increase tourism to Happy Valley, Pennslvania, particularly overnight stays,” according to the HVAB website.
Applications for the grant will open one month earlier than previous applications have been opened due to an increase in applications. The portal to apply for the grants will remain open until Friday, Feb. 21. An announcement of the grant recipients is tentatively expected in early June of this year.
“The HVAB staff, board and Centre County Commissioners are delighted that growing awareness has stimulated so much new and innovative activity, such as the Happy Valley Improv Festival, Centre Film Festival and so many others,” HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith said. “Strong hotel performance and the collection of the lodging tax from short-term rental properties starting in 2019 greatly increased the pool of funding available to support the program, which may reach the one-million-dollar threshold this year.”
The grant program, which began in 2002, has awarded over $6.6 million to local events, attractions and businesses since its inception.
“We encourage those considering applying to examine for their ask with a visitation impact lens,” Smith said. “Day trippers are of course valuable to our strong tourism economy. They spend money in our restaurants and shops. But encouraging people to extend their time in Happy Valley is the goal of the grant program.”
According to the BOC, the grant pool is anticipated to exceed $1 million.
“We are excited to announce the 2025-26 Tourism Grant program with The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. With the Tourism Grant pool anticipated to exceed $1 million, we strongly urge eligible nonprofits to apply,” a statement from the BOC shared. “This program has developed tourism
assets over the last 23 years, which benefits not only visitors but also those who call Happy Valley home. Due in part to the Tourism Grant program, the hospitality sector now has over 8,000 employees, which is a record-breaking for Centre County.”
To apply, visit happyvalley.com/grant-program. Questions for the grant program can be sent to Judy Maurer at [email protected].
