49 applicants to get Utah tourism funds

The Utah Board of Tourism Development on Friday approved more than $1.86 million in funding for local entities as part of the state's cooperative tourism marketing program.

The board received 56 applications from nonprofit tourism entities throughout the state. They sought a total of more than $2.7 million. The board approved funding for 49. The board also set aside $522,000 of the available $2.3 million this year for "special opportunities."

Local entities must provide matching money. Eligible organizations include cities, counties, nonprofit destination marketing organizations and similar public entities that have been established as a nonprofit for at least one year.

The Utah Office of Tourism will match up to 50 percent of the cost of a marketing project, and all projects must use the Utah "Life Elevated" brand.

Last year, the first year under the co-op program, 48 applicants received a total of nearly $1.9 million.

Applicants approved for funding Friday are:

• American Dream Foundation/Union Station Foundation, $30,000.

• Box Elder County Tourism Office, $6,075.

• Castle Country, $2,502.

• Davis Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, $33,775.

• Heber Valley Railroad Authority, $15,000.

• Historic District Improvement Co., $20,900.

• Huntsman World Senior Games, $75,000.

• Moab Arts Council, $6,600.

• Moab Music Festival, $6,900.

• Ogden Weber Convention and Visitors Bureau/Weber County, $220,235.

• Panguitch Main Street Inc., $5,000.

• Park City Convention and Visitors Bureau, $250,000.

• Park City Jazz Festival, $25,000.

• Park City Jazz Festival (IAJE), $25,000.

• Park City Performing Arts Foundation, $91,010.

• Pioneer Theater Co., $35,000.

• Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, $75,000.

• Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau/Clark Planetarium, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Thanksgiving Point Institute, Red Butte Garden, $75,000.

• Utah Festival Opera Co., $39,125.

• Utah Shakespearean Festival, $99,325.

• Utah Ski & Snowboard Association/Ski Utah, $132,000.

• Wasatch Western Heritage Inc., $12,000.

• Wayne County Travel Council, $11,360.26.

• West Valley City, $29,500.

• Cache Valley Visitors Bureau/Box Elder County Tourism, Rich County Tourism, $26,452.50.

• Castle Country/Moab Area Travel, Dinosaurland, Moab, Canyon Country, $16,899.

• Dinosaurland Travel Board, $7,652.50.

• Four Corners Heritage Council, $8,125.

• Friends of the Moab Folk Festival, $15,000.

• Juab Travel Council, $3,750.

• Olde World Historical Council/Dickens' Christmas Festival, $10,000.