Cooperative Grants to Boost Tourism by $53,000

Organizations in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties are among those that will benefit from more than $553,000 in grants to promote tourism throughout the state, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno announced Thursday morning.

The grants, known as Cooperative Marketing Grants, are administered by the New Jersey Department of State's Division of Travel & Tourism, supply funding to promote individual tourism events, activities and attractions in New Jersey, Guadagno said.

Monmouth County will receive $15,500; the Belmar Surf Contest will receive $10,200; and the Garden State Film Festival will receive $12,000.

In Ocean County, Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen’s Museum will receive $19,750; the Lighthouse International Film Festival will receive $10,950; ReClam the Bay will receive $10,800; and the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences will receive $9,300.

Ocean City will receive $11,550 in grants. Cape May County will receive the highest number of grants of any county in the entire state, with 11.

The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum will receive $22,250, while the Cape May County Crest Haven Complex will receive $21,500 and Historic Cold Spring Village will receive $21,500.

In Atlantic County, the Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce will receive $12,600 in grants.

"Tourism is an important economic engine for New Jersey, particularly along our shore. It's an industry that contributes significantly to the health of our communities by creating jobs and bringing revenue into our municipalities," Guadagno said. "Several weeks ago, I kicked off the ‘Show Your Love for the Jersey Shore’ initiative to support local shore area businesses through the months ahead. The Cooperative Marketing Grant Program grants announced today will do even more to attract visitors and boost tourism here in New Jersey."

The following is the complete list of those receiving funding throughout the state:

The Garden State film Festival: $12,000, Monmouth

Belmar Pro Surf Contest: $10,200, Monmouth

Monmouth County: $15,500, Monmouth

Barnegat Bay Decoy & Baymen's Museum: $19,750, Ocean

Lighthouse International Film Festival: $10,950, Ocean

ReClam the Bay: $10,800, Ocean

Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Science: $9,300, Ocean

Joseph P. Hayes Surflight Theatre: $14,000, Ocean

Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce: $12,600, Atlantic

Cooper's Ferry Partnership: $18,000, Camden

Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum: $22,250, Cape May

Historic Cold Spring Village: $21,000, Cape May

Cape May County Crest Haven Complex: $21,500, Cape May

Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce: $12,450, Cape May

Sunset Lake Hydrofest Association: $12,000, Cape May

East Lynne Company, Inc.: $14,400, Cape May

Ocean City: $11,550, Cape May

Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society: $11,550, Cape May

Atlantic City Trolley Tours: $8,254, Cape May

7 Mile BUsiness Community Association, Inc.: $17,750, Cape May

Stone Harbor Borough: $4,439, Cape May

Millville Army Air Field Museum: $20,000, Cumberland

New Jersey Motorsports Park: $18,500, Cumberland

Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center: $15,750, Cumberland

Montclair Film Fesitval: $13,050, Essex

Festival of Ballooning Inc.: $11,700, Essex

Ironbound Business Improvement District: $17,000, Essex

Promo One of NJ, Inc.: $5,900, Essex

Hoboken City: $15,750, Hudson

Delaware River Greenway Partnership: $2,900, Hunterdon

Garden State Winegrowers Association: $17,750, Mercer

New Jersey Council for the Humanities: $1,140, Mercer

Public Art Foundation/Grounds for Sculpture: $15,000, Mercer

Passage Theatre Company: $6,640, Mercer

Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc.: $14,000, Mercer

New Jersey Restaurant Association: $9,558, Mercer

First Choice Marketing LLC: $23,250, Morris

Appel Farm Arts and Music Center: $16,000, Salem

Sussex County: $2,480, Sussex

Warren County Farmers Fair: $11,700, Warren

Villa Milagro Vineyards: $16,000, Warren

Highlands Tourism Partnership: $9,300, Warren