$267K Awarded to Franklin County Community Projects

The Franklin County Commissioners are pleased to announce 2019 Franklin County Tourism and Quality of Life Enhancement Grant recipients.

“This program allows our communities to increase both tourism and the quality of life for Franklin County residents,” said Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller.

The purpose of the Tourism and Quality of Life Enhancement Grant program is to help boost 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.

The following projects have been chosen for funding:

●        Fort Loudon Community Center Walking and Bike Path, $17,800 (Peters Township)

●        Washington Township Monterey Pass Battlefield Park Trail System Improvements Project, $50,000 (Washington Township)

●        Archeological Conservancy - Archaeological Park Ebbert Springs to furnish an 18th Century one room schoolhouse, $10,000 (Antrim Township)

●        Zion Union Cemetery Association for continued care of the cemetery, $5,000 (Mercersburg)

●        Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project to install two interactive touch screen stations, $5,000 (Mercersburg)

●        Fort Loudon Historical Society for reconstruction of Soldier Barracks at Historic Fort Loudoun, $73,000 (Peters Township)

●        Mont Alto Historical Society for renovations to the museum, $3,190 (Mont Alto)

●        Historical Letterkenny Chapel & Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park for preservation and tourism upgrades, $8,375 (Letterkenny Township)

●        Totem Pole Playhouse for expenses associated with heating, plumbing, and electrical upgrades, $50,000 (Greene Township)

●        Franklin County Historical Society for renovations to the Kittochtinny St. Thomas Toll House No. 2, $20,000 (St. Thomas Township)

●        Capitol Theater to repair walls affected by moisture, $15,000  (Chambersburg)

●        Allison-Antrim Museum Inc. for expenses associated with museum stabilization, $10,000 (Antrim Township)

The Franklin County Tourism and Quality of Life Enhancement Grant has allocated over $1.7M to more than 40 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.

Nonprofit organizations and municipalities located within Franklin County with a mission and operations related to tourism or the improvement of quality of life experiences for county residents are eligible to apply. The next application process will begin in August 2020.

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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