From Harford County government:
County Executive Barry Glassman is pleased to announce that 29 local nonprofits will receive a total of $1.5 million in funding to plan and implement a variety of tourism related activities including historical, cultural, agricultural, heritage, and eco-tourism operations in fiscal year 2018. This is the third consecutive year of awards funded by the hotel lodging fee first implemented by the Glassman administration in March 2015. The competitive funding program spurs economic activity and promotes attractions enjoyed by visitors and Harford County citizens alike.
“I am committed to moving Harford County forward as a premier tourism destination and supporting opportunities that enhance our quality of life,” County Executive Barry Glassman said. “My administration’s competitive award process provides accountability for how funds are used while assisting nonprofits in sustaining and enhancing tourism-related programs and activities. This funding also indirectly boosts local businesses, including restaurants and shops, when visitors come to Harford County.”
The 14-week competitive funding application process ran from January 23 to April 15, 2017, offering 501c3 and 501c6 organizations the opportunity to apply for funding. The Harford County Office of Economic Development held informational workshops in February and March to offer assistance in completing the application, to discuss projects and to answer questions from interested organizations. The workshops focused on three critical requirements that enhanced eligibility for an organization: good standing as a 501c3 or 501c6 with the state of Maryland; ability of the organization’s program or activity to draw visitors from outside the borders of Harford County; and ‘but for these funds,’ the program or activity could not be implemented or executed successfully. The Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) reviewed applications and made recommendations to the county executive for final approval.
“I would like to thank EDAB for reviewing all applications and making recommendations to serve the greatest number of recipients while focusing on each organization’s accountability and efforts toward sustainability,” County Executive Glassman said.
Funding recipients have received a notification letter from Mr. Glassman announcing their award amount. An award package from the Office of Economic Development will follow with guidelines for executing a Memorandum of Agreement, quarterly performance and budget reporting templates, and procedures for receiving funding. Once packet materials are fully executed, funds will be made available after the fiscal year begins on July 1, 2017.
Organizations receiving funds for FY 18 are listed below.
APG Centennial Celebration Association, Inc. (ACCA) – $40,000 for APG’s 100th anniversary, museum concept planning
Bel Air Downtown Alliance, Inc. – $45,000 for operations, continued market study implementation
Bel Air Recreation Committee, Inc. – $8,500 toward marketing efforts for Bel Air Arts Show
Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County, Maryland, Inc. – $37,500 for operations to expand Haunted Trail
Chesapeake Heritage Conservancy, Inc. – $15,000 for operations, marketing for Skipjack Martha Lewis
Darlington Apple Festival, Inc. – $25,000 for event operations
Friends of Jerusalem Mill, Inc. – $10,000 for operations and outreach
Harford County Chapter Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. – $4,000 for Bel Air Gun Show
Harford County Farm Fair, Inc – $45,000 for operations for expanded fair, anniversary year
Havre de Grace Alliance, Inc. – $38,000 for operations
Havre de Grace Arts Collective, Inc. – $15,000 for operational support
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Inc. – $80,000 for operations and outreach
Highland Community Association, Inc. – $50,000 for operations and outreach
Maryland Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. – $50,000 for operations and outreach
Rockfield Foundation, Incorporated – $25,000 for operations and outreach
Soroptimist International of Havre de Grace, Inc. – $5,000 for Havre de Grace Arts Show
Steppingstone Museum Association, Inc.- $50,000 for operations and programs
Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace, Inc. – $35,000 for Lockhouse operations
Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Inc. – $25,000 for operations and outreach
Susquehannock Wildlife Society, Inc. – $55,000 for operations
The Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse, Incorporated – $18,000 for operations
The Harford Artists’ Association, Inc. – $4,000 for operations and outreach
The Harford Community College Foundation, Inc. – $35,000 for expanded event marketing of Arena
The Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, Inc. – $35,000 for operations
The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. – $40,000 for operations
The Hosanna Community House, Incorporated – $45,000 for operations; anniversary year
The Liriodendron Foundation, Inc. – $70,000 for operations and outreach
The Trustees of The Ladew Topiary Gardens, Inc. – $55,000 for operations and outreach
Visit Harford!, Inc.- $540,000 for operations and outreach
Really? Nothing for the Susquehanna Greenway, but spending our cash on the Bel Air gun show?
That’s just plain wrong in so many ways. Shameful!
not to mention $50,000 more being poured down the Center for the Arts sinkhole! That is beyond shameful. It’s shocking that there are still folks in this county, including the government, and delegation, who STILL aren’t on to the cfa fiasco. How many more millions of dollars (yes , millions) of people’s money do they have to take, with nothing to show for it, before someone in charge says, “okay, this is the wrong team to be leading this effort… 12 years and $3 million>>>>> 3 signs, a dinky little parking lot, and 10 galas……….. you’re fired” Who IS in charge, by the way? Who is responsible for overseeing PT Barnum and the board???
Yup – I posted a similar comment – why are subsidizing a gun show with taxpayer dollars? Than makes no sense.
We subsidize many things, like food for those who sell their benefit cards for 50 cents on the dollar and we ponied up the whole amount for the benefit card in the first place. Then we feed their children at school and in the summer because their parents will not feed them with the money we had already given for their food.
If I need a gun to protect me from some liberal nut job like the one who shot up a baseball practice and I can’t afford one, why should I not receive a subsidy to purchase one for me and my family’s protection?
“If I need a gun to protect me from some liberal nut job like the one who shot up a baseball practice and I can’t afford one, why should I not receive a subsidy to purchase one for me and my family’s protection? ”
My taxes already pay for police protection for your family. If people want a government subsidy to purcahse a gun, I want a government subsidy to purchase musical instruments for my kids.
I’m with you, subsidy’s for everyone.
TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC! CAR WRECKS, CAR WRECKS, CAR WRECKS! TAX REVENUE, TAX REVENUE, TAX REVENUE?
Lay off the caps old angry dude.
Who wants to visit that sht hole county?
Bravo circus/goer. Very astute if you. Meanwhile, HdG decided they wanted a venue. The Opera House. They studied it, planned it, raised the money, and FINISHED it. No whining, no drama, no sneakiness, complete transparency, all professionalism and results, no revolving door of ceos and board members and supporters, no 6 changes of plans, no $1 million plus on salaries, no $1 million plus on “studies and project costs”, all with volunteers! (Not an overpaid reject syaff) no switching from a $100 million plan, to a $70 million plan, to a $30 million plan, to multi-phase $4 million plan. HDG started the project 8 years after center for the arts started …. and they’ve achieved their goal ( love my town!) and completed their project! The most substantive thing that CFA has done is to change their name from Harford CFA to Maryland CFA……. likely because they were running out of local folks who didn’t see thru them. How embarrassing? Are there any leaders out there who are going to do something about this; or explain it? It has taught many of us to do more homework before donating money, believe me.
The one thing that is concerning is that they’ve sucked in a few credible folks lately for the board. Folks That the community used to respect. It’s damaged these folks ‘ credibility already. Sad. And these are folks who, if they did their homework, would have easily detected this far farce.
Sent from my iPhone
Omg. You so nailed it! Refreshing to hear someone intelligently calling out these incompetent frauds. They keep hounding me to set up introductions for them. Do they really think that I would expose these 2 clowns to someone who trusted me? Have you seen Jessup’ schtick? Makes my skin crawl
Talk to Pillars of our community, and they’ll give you some great stories about the moving target that these clowns have flogged over the past 6 years.
Also take a very close look at their 990’s, their fiscal year changes, the discrepancy between what they submit to the county and what submit on their 990’s. if ur going reach back 3 years and capitalize sunk consulting costs, in order to inflate your assets , you need to restate financials; PLUS, your quickbook balance sheet (with the overstated capitalized project costs, needs to jive w your 990. Right Paul ?
Harford’s drug trade does more than all of these organizations combined to bring in tourists. This is money down the drain. Let’s face it folks, Harford County is simply not a tourist destination. It’s a drive by for folks on I95 heading to someplace warm or really interesting.
I respectfully disagree Sam. Great folks, great place. Give it a try. You’re a reasonable person. You might be surprised.
$4,000 for the Bel Air Gun Show? What the bleep?? Why are we subsidizing people buying guns? If they want to buy a gun, they should use their own money to go out and buy one. My tax dollars should not be spending one nickle so Grandpa Jones can load his shotgun in the back of his pickup truck. What is this world coming to??
It’s an event that draws the crowd, time after time that doesn’t involve the words bar/booze in the greater “Bel Air” area.
Please though, continue with the tax payer shtick and tell me the sky is falling, climate change, russians.