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New round of trail tourism grants available in York County
Paula Wolf//February 15, 2022
The next round of Bloom grants to promote trail tourism in seven York County Trail Towns is now open.
In June 2020, the York County Economic Alliance launched the trail towns program in five communities along the York County Heritage Rail Trail: York, Seven Valleys, Glen Rock, Railroad and New Freedom. The next year, Hanover and Wrightsville were added.
The program is focused on increasing trail tourism and supporting and encouraging businesses that provide services and amenities to the nearly 500,000 trail users who pass through these communities annually.
This round of Bloom grants will allocate $30,000, with grants up to $3,000 available for projects related to outdoor recreational users and/or to make the business more trail user-friendly, according to a release.
Examples include improved marketing and promotions targeted at recreational users; expanding inventory; physical improvements; and the addition of bike-friendly amenities.
For-profit enterprises are the intended beneficiary of the grants, but nonprofit organizations providing a specific service to outdoor recreational users may be eligible to apply. Nonprofits should contact the York County Economic Alliance first.
Businesses that have not received previous Bloom grant funding will be prioritized, along with Black, Indigenous and people of color-owned businesses. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. March 7.
