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DDC Awards $202,300 In Community Investment Fund Grants

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

May 10, 2024 – Door County, WI.  Destination Door County (DDC) is excited to announce that another $202,300 has been awarded to local projects as part of the fifth round of grant awards for the organization’s Community Investment Fund.

A total of four community projects were awarded grants ranging from $6,950 to $92,850. Recipients included two local units of government and two non-profit organizations. The funded projects will benefit local residents as well as visitors to Door County.

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.

“Our excitement in announcing these investments in our community continues with our latest round of recipients,” said Julie Gilbert, President/CEO of Destination Door County. “This program provides us with a way to invest in community projects that will make a positive impact on our residents, as well as visitors, and allows us to form partnerships within the community we’ve not had before,” she said.

The projects that were awarded funding in the fifth grant cycle include:

  • The County of Door received support for an open-air park pavilion at John Miles County Park that will provide space for music performances, community gatherings, and other large events rain or shine. Project investment amount: $92,850.
  • The Sturgeon Bay School District received support for the installation of a new ADA accessible playground with serenity areas at Sunrise School, expanding access to free recreational play for visitors, residents, and school children with all physical abilities and neurodiversity. Project investment amount: $80,000.
  • The Friends of Potawatomi State Park received support for the installation of an accessible kayak launch that will allow visitors and residents to enjoy Door County from the water regardless of age or physical ability. Project investment amount: $22,500.
  • The Baileys Harbor Björklunden campus of Lawrence University received support to help create a safer and more inviting visitor experience by installing improved parking lot lighting around the main lodge. Project investment amount: $6,950.

These four projects join the 24 projects that were previously awarded a total of $1,204,952 through the first four grant rounds, bringing the total amount of Community Investment Fund grant awards to $1,407,252 since the program began in May 2023.

There are three more grant cycle opportunities happening in 2024, with application deadlines of June 24, September 23 and December 23. 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.