The Grant Assistance Program awards are called “GAP grants” because they are designed to help “fill in the gap” by financially assisting nonprofit organizations with projects, events, improvements or maintenance to tourist or historical sites. The GAP Grant is an annual initiative that has been going strong for over a decade, according to tourism Executive Director Jackee Pugh. The cycle of application opens in January, and the board awards the grants at the end of March.

“We are blessed to be able to offer financial support to so many nonprofits that impact tourism in Belmont County,” Pugh said. “This year we were able to award a little bit more funding to our museums and historic landmarks so that they could do some capital improvements.”

Some of the local nonprofits that were awarded the grants were the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival, St. Clairsville Parks and Recreation Department, Arc of Ohio, Belmont County Historical Society, Ohio National Road Association, Bellaire Public Library and many more. First-time applicant Olney Friends School is looking to do birding on its Barnesville campus. Staff and students plan on doing research about the different birds that are present. The school plans on using the grant money to create a habitat and have events to show the public different bird species.

“It really is a fun time for our office, because we get to find out about all of the great stuff people in the county are doing and then learn how to partner with them,” Pugh said of GAP Grant season.

The GAP initiative is able to help a few of the smaller fairs and festivals as well, such as Flushing Heritage Days and the Hollaway Old Timers Baseball Association. The tourism council board is “very optimistic about the future of Belmont County and looking forward to all upcoming events happening right here, in friendly, beautiful, Belmont County,” according to a tourism council press release.

“The GAP funding is such an incredible thing that Belmont County Tourism does,” Eric Gay, St. Clairsville Parks and Recreation director, said.

Gay also said his department uses the grant each year to be able to host its summer concert series. The grant allows it to pay the artists to perform while keeping the event free to the public.

The Underground Railroad Museum was another recipient of a grant. Director Kristina Estle said the museum will use the funding for its Juneteenth Celebration and Fundraiser.

“This year with the Belmont County Tourism Council’s awarded grant funding we plan to have an unforgettable event with Goree Drum and Dance group out of Columbus, a taste of Africa provided by a local caterer and a presentation on the history of enslavement in the Ohio Valley,” Estle said.