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Destination Door County Reaches Milestone with 50+ Projects Funded Across the County

August 15, 2025 – Door County, WI.  Destination Door County (DDC) is excited to share that, with today's announcement of the most recent grant awards, 53 local community projects have now been funded through the destination organization’s Community Investment Fund grant program.

A total of $400,000 has been awarded to six local projects in the latest round of Community Investment Fund grant awards. Recipients include three local municipalities and three local non-profit organizations, with project investments ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

All awarded projects must meet specific requirements to qualify for funding. The dollars DDC uses for this program are generated from room taxes 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.

“When visitors come to enjoy Door County, their overnight stay is more than a visit, it’s a cycle of giving,” according to Julie Gilbert, President & CEO of Destination Door County. “Through this program we’re helping fund many amazing projects that improve our community for residents, while also enhancing the visitor experience here,” she said.

The projects that were awarded funding in the program’s tenth grant cycle include:

  • Village of Ephraim was awarded $100,000 to help restore the Anderson Dock Historic Site.
  • Bradley Jordan Foundation was awarded $100,000 to help build the first-ever gym at Washington Island School, featuring public pickleball courts and a walking track for residents, school children and visitors.
  • Sister Bay Historical Society was awarded $50,000 to enhance infrastructure and accessibility at the Corner of the Past museum property.
  • The Ridges Sanctuary was awarded $50,000 to construct all-season restrooms on its North Campus, supporting year-round trail use for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and nature immersion.
  • Town of Washington was awarded $50,000 to ensure the Washington Island Recreation Center swimming pool continues to serve current and future Washington Island visitors and residents for recreation and wellness.
  • Village of Sister Bay was awarded $50,000 to transform the Teresa K. Hilander Community Ice Rink into a winter hub open more than 110 days each season.

These six most recent projects join 47 local projects that previously received grant funding, bringing the total impact from DDC’s Community Investment Fund to $2,810,082 since the program began in May 2023. A list of every grant that has been awarded is available at DoorCounty.com/cif.

The next grant application deadline is Monday, September 22, 2025, at 4 PM. Qualified applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(6) organizations, and local units of government.

Destination Door County encourages any interested local non-profit organization or local municipality to schedule a meeting with the Door County Community Foundation, DDC’s Community Investment Fund administrative partner, 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 

920.818.1131 or julie@doorcounty.com