Harford County has awarded a total of $645,500 to 15 local nonprofits to support lodging tourism in the county. Funding for the grants will come from the county’s 6% hotel tax.
“Tourism is a good investment in Harford County and boosts our small businesses as visitors stay, dine and shop locally,” Harford County Mayor Cassilly said in a news release. “Our tourism program is a win-win: we become self-sustaining through hotel taxes and foster local attractions that attract visitors, driving economic activity and improving our own quality of life.”
According to the Maryland Tourism Office, overnight visitors have 12 times the economic impact on Maryland than day trippers.
Harford-based nonprofits had to apply for the grants, which were awarded in two categories: Partnership Fund and Harford Stride Fund.
The Harford Strides Fund provides tourism-related nonprofits with funding for operating and program costs. Organizations that participate in the fund can receive grant funding for two consecutive years before becoming eligible to apply for the Partnership Fund.
The beneficiaries of the Harford Strides Fund are:
Concord Point Lighthouse — $20,000 Harmers Town Art Center — $30,000 Havre de Grace Arts Collective — $10,000 Havre de Grace Colored School and Cultural Center — $40,000 Hosanna School Museum — $50,000 Rockfield Foundation — $25,000 Havre de Grace Susquehanna Museum — $28,500 Susquehannock Wildlife Society — $55,000
The Harford Partnership Fund encourages nonprofits to create events that encourage guests to stay for more than one night. The winners in this category are:
Bel Air Downtown Alliance — $80,000 Havre de Grace Decoy Museum — $85,000 Havre de Grace Maritime Museum — $25,000 Highland Community Association — $70,000 Maryland Visual and Performing Arts Center — $57,000 Stepping Stone Museum — $70,000
The Harvel de Grace Decoy Museum, the organization that received the most grant money this year, said the money will be used to organize, promote and run its annual three-day Decoy Festival.
Museum board president Mark Tarquini said the festival draws about 1,000 visitors each year, 33 percent of whom are from out of state, according to a survey conducted by the museum’s board of directors.
Tarquini said keeping track of the number of out-of-state visitors and vendors who attend the museum’s festival has really helped the museum avoid “blanket changes.”
“Our annual budget is about $300,000, so getting $85,000 in one grant is significant,” Tarquini said. “If we didn’t get this grant, we would be forced to make significant changes, and those changes would likely be reducing hours and laying off staff, something every business has to do, but his grant allows us to avoid those changes.”
The tourism funding announcement comes after the County Council approved the fiscal 2025 budget this month.
The budget passed with a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Jacob Bennett, of District F, voting against it. Bennett’s district covers primarily the historic seaside town of Havre de Grace, and he said he values tourism, an area of the budget that concerns him.
He said he voted against the budget proposal because he did not receive assurances from Governor Cassilly that adequate funding would be provided for Visit Harford, the nonprofit tourism hub that promotes Harford County.
Harford Tourism was not among 15 organizations that received hotel tax grants because the money is intended for nonprofits that host events and attractions to bring tourists to the county, said Matt Button, a county spokesman.
