York County Tourism Grant Program
Explore York and the York County Commissioners have established a matching grant program aimed at boosting tourism in York County. A tourist is defined as a visitor from outside of a 50-mile radius of the county.
This program is funded through a hotel room tax enacted by the York County Commissioners and provides financial support to initiatives deemed capable of generating broad and substantial benefit to York County tourism.
2025 Round 2 Application Cycle: June 1-July 15, 2025
2026 Round 1 Application Cycle: January 1-February 15, 2026
Interested in Applying for a Grant?
Check out these awesome resources you can use to prepare your grant application!
Pro Tip #1: Consultations are highly encouraged! Reach out to our Tourism Grant Program Manager, Elizabeth Waite Fisher, at Elizabeth@YorkPA.org with your contact information, organization, and brief description of your questions, concerns, ideas, etc.
Pro Tip #2: Plan ahead! Integration of the York County Destination Brand in your marketing and promotional plans is required for grant recipients. Be sure to include your ideas in your application.
Pro Tip #3: Foundant offers free educational resources for grant-writers on their website. Everything from Grant Management to Storytelling – check them out!
The York County Legacy Program
The Legacy Program is a new program designed by Sport York in partnership with the Tourism Grant Program to give back to the greater York community. This program introduces a community enhancement component for events funded by Sport York or Explore York. Community support can include, but is not limited to, inclusion of local athletes and teams invited free of charge to tournaments, college coaches showcase, healthy lifestyle initiatives and clinics for athletes, and educational opportunities that help advance our community.
The first Tourism Grant Program funded event that became a part of the Legacy Program was the International Slow Pitch Softball National Championships. One part of that consisted of event organizers assisting in the donation of backpacks filled with school supplies to children at an elementary school in the local community. This was done in an effort to further connect the large events we bring into the area with the community that warmly welcomes them here.
York County Tourism Grant Program Funded Projects:
Other Grant Opportunities for the York County, PA Community
I was already awarded a grant. What now?
So you've been awarded a grant, and now you're looking at your next steps. When it comes branding, check out our guidelines below for all the information you need. We've also provided a page where you can download the Explore York and York County Destination Brand logos for your project. After you've executed your York County Tourism Grant Program funded project, a post-grant report is required. Download our template below to get started. We've also included a blank, downloadable closeout budget to get you started on that. Please note: Receipts for budget items over $500 are a required component of Post Grant Reporting. Itemized, zero-balance receipts issued by vendors are required for the grant and match requirement.
York County Tourism Grant Committee
Delegation & County Appointed / Chair
Bryan Tate, York County Register of Wills
Explore York Appointed
Christina McCullough, Stewart & Tate
YCEA Appointed
Katie Mahoney, YCEA & Downtown Inc.
Legislative Delegation Appointed
Carmen Witmer, PA House of Representatives, Office of Senator Dawn Keefer
Nominating Committee Appointed
Sarah Messer, Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce
County Commissioners Appointed
Tyler Chronister, County of York Pennsylvania
City of York Appointed
Ophelia Chambliss, Ophelia's Making Agency
Nominating Committee Appointed
Elaine Bonneau, Bonneau & Associates
Crispus Attucks Appointed
Scott Deisley, CAY History & Culture Center
Explore York Staff Representatives
Laura Wagner, President
Diane Yocum, Business & Administration Director
Elizabeth Waite, Grant Program Manager
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