Sixteen local events have been awarded funding totaling $17,500 from the Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau's Event Marketing Grant Program. Initiated in 1996, the program was developed by the Steuben County CVB to support and grow events attractive to tourists. The funds awarded must be used to promote the event outside the local area. Of the 16 events that submitted applications for the 2005 grants, three events are either new events or first-time grant applicants. Funding requests totaled $35,703. Since the program's inception, the Steuben County CVB has awarded over $135,000 in funding to local events.

Events must be held in Steuben County to be eligible for funding. The events submit grant applications which are reviewed and scored by a committee. Funding is then based on the score attained. Applications are judged according to several factors such as the marketing plan for the event, community interest in the event, expected tourism attendance and the value of the event in generating overnight stays. The Steuben County CVB is a resource offering marketing strategies and suggestions. Events that receive funding are required to submit a final report to the CVB summarizing the success of the event and detailing how the grant was used in promoting it.

Peggy Coleman, Executive Director of the Steuben County CVB said, "Every event that applied received some level of funding. However, the competition for these funds intensifies each year. We have some really stellar events that are growing every year. This funding supports that growth by providing additional resources to increase their marketing efforts and drive even more visitors to the area."

Events receiving Steuben County CVB grant funding for 2005 include:

· Wineglass Marathon
· Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival
· Glass Art in the Crystal City
· American Red Cross "Reeling for Relief"
· Keuka Winery Events
· Corning's Gaffer District Events
· Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
· Corning Art Walk & Elmira Open Studio Tour Exhibit
· Genundowa, Native American Festival of Lights
· Chili and Chicken Wing Cook-off
· Cohocton Fall Foliage
· Wine Country Classic Boat Show & Regatta
· Arkport Summerfest
· National Junior College Athletic Association Women's Basketball Tournament
· Maple City Fall Festival
· Childhood Memories Miniatures Show

Information on these and other events in Steuben County can be found on www.CorningFingerLakes.com or by calling the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau at 936-6544.

The Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau was established in 1994 to promote the tourism industry of Steuben County and stimulate economic growth by attracting visitors, groups, and conferences to the county. The CVB is funded primarily by an occupancy tax paid by overnight visitors staying in hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts. A portion of the annual CVB budget is dedicated to event promotion.