Plover Area Convention & Visitors Bureau awards nearly $60,000 to local groups

PLOVER – The Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau presented local organizations and businesses with nearly $60,000 this morning through its new Go for It Grant program.

Malorie Paine, the Plover Area CVB’s executive director, said the organization was pleased to have received several strong proposals in the program’s initial grant cycle after launching in January. The Plover Area CVB awarded proposals that had plans to enhance both resident and visitor experiences, Paine said.

• The program awarded $25,000 to Plover Whiting Youth Athletics for two years of improvements at Woyak Park.
• The program awarded $15,000 to Point Area Single Track Association for trail enhancements at Standing Rocks County Park.
• The program awarded $8,000 to the Portage County Historical Society to help grow Heritage Days and the Heritage and Music Festival.
• The program awarded $6,495 to the Food + Farm Exploration Center to create a sidewalk connecting the center with Lake Pacawa Park.
• The program awarded $2,500 to Purple Basil to develop a patio at the Purple Basil Terrace.
• The program awarded $1,000 to Mission Coffee House to market new entertainment events to be held regularly at the coffee shop.

According to the group's website , applications were considered for projects or events that would enhance the Plover area, including development or marketing efforts that drive tourism and overnight stays in the areas. In creating the program, the Plover Area CVB hopes businesses and organizations will work to create new events and attractions and enhance the resources that already exist in the area.

Businesses, event planners, organizations, convention organizers, tradeshows and sporting event organizers are invited to apply for the Go For It Grant. The program prioritizes events or projects within Portage County, but the group will consider any project or event that drives tourism to the Plover area. According to the Plover Area CVB website, the group is interested in projects that focus on recreational development and enhancement projects like trails, kayak and boat launches, enhancing and developing sporting facilities, cultural events, agritourism, musical events and car shows. The group is also interested in tours and events that focus on food, breweries, distilleries and wineries, as well as tournaments, sporting events, meetings, conferences and conventions.

The Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board is committed to continuing the Go for It Grant program indefinitely, according to a news release from the organization. The program has already received more proposals since its first round and the Board will consider proposals until all funds have been awarded this year.

The Plover Area CVB was created in December 2022 to promote tourism in the Plover area and is funded through a portion of room tax collected in the town and village. For more information, visit comeovertoplover.com or find Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau on Facebook.

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Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda .

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Plover Area Convention & Visitors Bureau awards nearly $60,000 to local groups