Black Bear wins state grant funding

HARRISBURG - The Black Bear Film Festival was one 21 regional festivals tapped for state funding earlier this month when Governor Edward Rendell announced grants totalling $500,000 to further promote various festivals and other community-wide programs throughout the state. The Black Bear festival, scheduled for Oct. 13 to 16 this year, was awarded $20,000, of $227,500 allotted for festivals. To extend the impact of the grant and to continue positioning Pennsylvania as the premier destination for culture and heritage, four grant categories have been created this year: Pennsylvania Festivals, Pennsylvania Artists and Craftsmen, Trails, Pennsylvania Underground Railroad Experience, and special projects. The Pennsylvania Tourism Office received 117 grant applications. Pennsylvania is the fourth-most-visited state in the country, tied with New York, with approximately 126 million visitors annually. The total impact of travelers’ spending on Pennsylvania’s economy is approximately $23 billion a year, and tourism is responsible for more than 520,000 jobs. The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the state Department of Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to fulfilling the needs and aspirations of travelers by presenting them with the information and resources they need to plan and enjoy the activities, attractions and destinations that are uniquely Pennsylvania. For more information about Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, go to www.visitpa.com, or call (800) VISIT PA.