By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

The Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission announced it will be awarding $39,900 in tourism grants for the 2009 year.

According to Lisa Dittrich-Bondor, director of finance and administration, 28 applicants sought a total of $73,470, which were reviewed by the Grant Committee prior to the regular meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center. Of the 25 that were  awarded grants, their total requests amounted to $64,470 of which $39,900 was awarded.

Those who received awards, the amount they requested and the amount approved were: AAU Track & Field, $2,500, $2,500; Aukiki River Festival, $3,000, $3,000; Bark in the Park*, $3,000, $1,000; Calumet Crank Club Lake Shore Century, $2,200, $500; 51st Annual Chesterton Art Fair, $2,500, $2,000; Chesterton Bicycle Blast*, $3,000, $1,000; Chesterton’s European Market, $2,500, $2,000; Duck Race Festival, $3,000, $500; Duneland School of Emergency Response, $2,500, $2,000; 33rd Annual Duneland Woodcarvers Show, $1,870; $1,250; Elvis FANtasy Fest, $2,500; $1,250; Founder’s Square Market, $3,000, $1,500; 6th Annual Gardening Show, $2,500, $2,500; 2009 Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police Golf Tournament, $3,000, $2,500; Institute of Liturgical Studies, $2,500, $2,000; Kouts Christmas Open House, $1,400, $1,400; Kouts Porkfest, $2,500, $1,000; Lutheran Basketball, $2,500, $2,000; NIHPA Fall Harvest Festival, $2,500, $1,500; Portage Perch Fest, $3,000, $2,000; Taste of Duneland*, $3,000, $1,000; Treasures of the Past Antique Show, $2,500, $2,000; Valparaiso Kiwanis Hot Air BalloonFest, $2,500, $1,000, Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, $2,500, $500; 24th Annual VU Jazz Festival $2,500, $2,500.

* Events are all put on by the Business Initiative Group in Chesterton.

Grant Committee Chairman David Canright explained the committee held $10,000 for a contingency fund for worthy requests that are expected to come in late for 2009.

One such contingency arose Tuesday when Weimer said the NSA softball tournament, girls softpitch has once again requested the event be held in Portage and Valparaiso at the end of July. The event lasts for a week and draws thousands of spectators in addition to the teams.

The board approved giving the event an award of $6,000 to be equally divided between the Valparaiso and Portage parks departments from funds held back from 2008.

Posted 11/19/2008