From Frances Sack

MIDDLETOWN, OHIO----- Middletown Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) will be awarding grants to assist local profit and non-profit organizations presenting events and performances in Middletown. Grants are to be used for marketing and promotional purposes targeted to audiences outside Middletown.

This year the MCVB encourages all groups wishing to apply for a grant to submit their ideas with the online grant applications. You may go to www.mcvbcorporate.org for this form. This application will be available after February 17 at this site. Groups wishing to apply for grants should submit an application by April 17 and NO LATER than 5 pm. Non-profit agencies that received funds in 2011 must have submitted an Economic Impact Report within 30 days of the conclusion of their event. If an organization hosts a series of events, the Economic Impact Report must be submitted one month prior to the new grant cycle or the last business day of February. The Economic Impact Report form will be sent directly to the grant recipients following the distribution of the grant funds.  It is not the responsibility of the Middletown CVB to contact or remind organizations of these deadlines. If the Economic Impact Report is not turned in on time, the organization will not be considered for the next grant cycle.

Linda Moorman, president of the MCVB board said, “Our mission is to directly impact the Middletown economy by assisting local groups and businesses that bring new entertainment and hospitality industry dollars into Middletown. Visitors who buy admission tickets to local events, eat in local restaurants, stay in Middletown hotels, shop in retail stores or buy gasoline all add to the Middletown economy. Their purchases support local businesses and organizations and taxes on those purchases help state and local governments. Local Butler County hotel and motel bed tax dollars support the services provided by the MCVB.

The MCVB board will make grant awards only once in 2012 on May 17. In 2011 ten area non-profits were awarded more than $40,000 to support their marketing and promotion purposes targeted to audiences outside Middletown. Please send questions to MCVB@cinci.rr.com or call Butler County Convention Bureau at 513-422-3030 with questions.