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DDC Awards $325,251 In First Round of Community Investment Fund Grants

May 15, 2023 – Door County, WI.  Destination Door County (DDC) is excited to announce that $325,251 has been awarded to local units of government and non-profit organizations as part of the inaugural grant awards for the organization’s new Community Investment Fund.
 
A total of eight projects were awarded grants ranging from $90,000 to $5,000 in the first ever grant cycle, highlighted by projects that will benefit local residents as well as visitors to Door County. From a multi-jurisdictional trail to an ADA and intergenerational playground to historic preservation efforts, the grants will provide funding assistance to 3 municipal governments, the County of Door, and four area non-profit organizations.
 
All awarded projects had to meet specific requirements in order qualify for funding as the dollars DDC is using for this program come from room tax collections that overnight visitors to the county pay and that DDC receives as part of their agreement with the Door County Tourism Zone Commission. Wisconsin state statute dictates the use of those dollars.
 
“We are extremely excited to announce the very first recipients of our Community Investment Fund grant dollars,” said Julie Gilbert, President/CEO of Destination Door County. “We’ve been working on this program in partnership with the Door County Community Foundation and look forward to watching the funded projects come to fruition and make a positive impact on our community,” she said.
 
The projects that were awarded funding in the first grant cycle include:

  • Village of Sister Bay awarded $90,000 for a Multi-Jurisdictional Trail
  • Door County Land Trust awarded $75,000 for the Trail Bridge at Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve
  • City of Sturgeon Bay awarded $45,551 for an Aquatic Weed Harvester
  • County of Door awarded $44,000 for an ADA and Intergenerational Playground at John Miles County Park
  • Door Community Auditorium awarded $40,000 for a Blues, Roots & Jazz Festival
  • Town of Gibraltar awarded $15,700 for Phase II Fish Creek Beach Playground
  • Door County Historical Society awarded $10,000 for the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Restoration
  • Northeastern WI Antique Power Association awarded $5,000 for an Historic Replica Valmy Service Station

There are two more grant cycle opportunities happening in 2023, with deadlines of Thursday July 6 and then again on Thursday October 5. Qualified applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(6) organizations, and local units of government.

Any interested Door County municipality or local non-profit organization is strongly encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Door County Community Foundation to discuss their idea before submitting an application. Call the Community Foundation at (920) 746-1786 or email grants@givedoorcounty.org to schedule an appointment. For details about the program and to view funding requirements along with the online application, visit CommunityInvestmentFund.org.
 
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Destination Door County is the official tourism marketing and management organization for Door County whose mission is to inspire travel that drives community enhancement while working to ensure all travelers feel welcome, preserving the county’s way of life and protecting the region’s natural resources.

Media contact: Julie Gilbert, President/CEO, Destination Door County
julie@doorcounty.com, 920-818-1131