Briana Pace | Southern Indiana Business Report
Daviess County Visitors Bureau recently awarded nearly $63,000 to 17 local non-profit and community organizations. The grants were awarded specifically for projects and events that aim to attract visitors and highlight the uniqueness of the county.
Recipients can use the funding for many purposes, including event promotion and marketing as well as to enhance the quality of their project. Veale Creek Theatre plans to use the entirety of their $2,500 grant on costumes rented from New York for the performance of “1776,” a musical comedy about the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“There was no way I was going to dress 22 men in period costumes,” President of Veale Creek Theatre Joyce Morgan said.
Hoosier Truck Rally will use their $1,000 grant on advertising for their late-summer event. They pass out over 2,000 flyers promoting the truck rally at events in the Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky tri-state area, as well as hang banners on roadsides of high traffic areas.
“If you don’t advertise, you don’t get people” Show President Todd Rusk said. “And if you don’t get people, then you don’t have an event.”
For One Time Hunt Club, the grant may allow them to bring more veterans on their allexpenses paid, three-day turkey hunting trip. That includes three meals a day, hunting licenses and hotels for 15-20 service members. Vice President of the club Mike Keith anticipates they will use the $850 from the Daviess County Visitors Bureau to pay for participants’ meals and hunting licenses.
Daviess County Historical Society Museum put their $1,000 grant toward their Pioneer Days, an event that was May 15.
“Our grant money is what makes us able to do the fun things for the community,” said Archive Committee Co-Chair and museum volunteer Rose Palmer.
The program showcased American life 250 years ago complete with artisans making brooms and blacksmithing as well as volunteers dressed in period pieces. All Daviess County 4th graders were specifically invited to the event because of their Indiana history coursework, but the event was also open to the public.
The Daviess Community Hospital will use the $1,000 they received to host their second annual three-day pickleball tournament hosted in memory of Dr. Suresh Lohano. The tournament is a fundraiser event raising money for scholarships available to students wanting to pursue a career in the medical field, in addition to equipment for the hospital. Funds raised at the event also go toward allowing hospital staff to further their education.
Corning Heritage Center plans to use the $1,500 grant they received to pay for the entertainment at their Irish Heritage Festival on June 6. They hired the Laughing Jack band and Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums. The money will also be used for port-a-potties and handwashing stations. Any money leftover will be given to the volunteer fire department for their assistance with parking.
“Anytime we can get a grant, or you know, a large donation of any kind,” said Corning Irish Heritage Center President Sandy Farley, “we’re very thankful for that.”
Other organizations that received a grant from Daviess County Visitors Bureau are Washington Parks and Recreation, Montgomery Ruritan Club, North Daviess Community Growth Alliance, Washington Community Concert Series, Daviess County Construction Show, Discover Downtown Washington, 20th Century Chevy Car Fest, Odon Lions Club, West Boggs Park, Washington Baseball Club and Daviess County Chamber of Commerce.