$235K Awarded to Franklin County Community Projects

The Franklin County Commissioners are pleased to announce 2018 Franklin County Tourism and Quality of Life Enhancement Grant recipients.

“This program helps our communities promote and grow their tourism assets, strengthen Franklin County’s overall economic development efforts, and increase the quality of life for Franklin County residents,” said Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller.

The grant program is designed to enhance the tourism experience, promote visitation and overnight stays within Franklin County, improve the county as a destination for leisure travel, preserve and enhance the historical resources in the county, and provide bike and walking trails for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. Nonprofit organizations and municipalities located within Franklin County whose mission and operations are related to tourism or the improvement of quality of life experiences for county residents are eligible to apply.

The following projects have been chosen for funding:

• Amberson Valley Historical Society (Fannett Township) – $1,200 for a book of Amberson Valley history
• Borough of Waynesboro – $87,824 to extend the Ed Miller Memorial Trail through Renfrew Park and connect to the trail at Otterbein Church Community Park
• Capitol Theatre Center (Chambersburg) – $20,000 for upgrades to electronics, lighting, food service equipment, restroom equipment and event furnishings
• Chambersburg Volunteer Fireman’s Museum – $10,000 for building repairs
• Conococheague Institute for the Study of Cultural Heritage (Montgomery Township) – $36,551 for walking trail enhancements and Davis-Chambers House repairs
• Fort Loudoun (Peters Township) – $25,259 for reconstruction of the bastions of historic Fort Loudoun
• Greencastle Area Youth Foundation – $14,000 for High Line Train Station restoration and displays
• Historic Letterkenny Chapel and Franklin County Veterans & 9/11 Memorial Park – $12,000 to repair decorative masonry on the chapel bell tower, install air conditioning and install a camera system
• MACWell  (Mercersburg) – $5,625 for signs on the Johnstons Run Streamside Trail
• Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc. – $20,000 to redevelop 21 W. Main St., to include a visitors center
• Mont Alto Historical Society – $1,600 to set up a society headquarters
• Waynesboro Area Industrial Heritage Trust – $941 to update museum computer hardware and software

The Franklin County Tourism and Quality of Life Enhancement Grant has allocated over $1.5M to more than 30 local projects since its inception in 2014. The funding is derived from the hotel/motel tax on overnight stays at hotels in the county, as well as Marcellus Shale impact fees.

For more information on the Franklin County Tourism and Quality of Life Enhancement Grant, contact the Franklin County Planning Department at (717) 261-3855.

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