Berlin festival, historical societies, Winesburg park Harvest Ridge among bed tax recipients

Kevin Lynch, Wooster Daily Record
·3 min read

More than $400,000 in requests for Bed Tax Grants were submitted to the the Holmes County commissioners, but only had around $200,000 was available to distribute.

Commissioners approved grants totaling $209,358 for various events/organizations, ranging from $40,000 to the Holmes County Bicentennial Committee/Chamber of Commerce Bicentennial Celebration to $25,000 to Berlin Main Street Merchants for the Harvest Fest and Rib Cook off and $2,500 to the Holmes County Association for Handicapped Citizens for the Spring Benefit and Festival.

Three separate requests seeking $28,000 each for the Walnut Creek Business Association were rejected, as was as a $50,000 request for paving at Holmes Center for the Arts. Historic Downtown Millersburg requests for two $10,000 grants to support two events also were denied.

"The intention of the Bed Tax Grants is to provide seed money for some of these start-up events that bring people in to stay in the county and fill up those rooms," Commissioner Dave Hall said. "That's what it was designed for way back when. We've seen some of these events grow quite a bit since they first started."

Hall pointed out the funding awareness event the county held earlier this year to inform organizations about various opportunities available helped some organizations find alternative funding sources.

Commissioner Joe Miller said funding is awarded based on the potential impact the event will have on hotel stays, as well as how much the organizations are willing to put forth.

A Holmes County Bed Tax Grant of $8,000 was OK'd by commissioners for Phase II of Holmes County Veterans Memorial at Deer Run Park i Millersburg. (DAILY RECORD FILE PHOTO)
A Holmes County Bed Tax Grant of $8,000 was OK'd by commissioners for Phase II of Holmes County Veterans Memorial at Deer Run Park i Millersburg. (DAILY RECORD FILE PHOTO)

Melissa Patrick, chairman of the Holmes County Bicentennial Committee, was grateful for the funding her group received to put together the yearlong celebration, starting with a June 29 parade to celebrate 200 years of Millersburg, in conjunction with Thunder Over Holmes County.

"It is such a relief," she said. "Looking at the possibility of not getting any funding, how were we going to adjust and choose what not to do. It's really exciting and this is really going to help us make sure we put on an excellent bicentennial celebration for the year."

Bicentennial information is shared at Facebook.com/HolmesCountyBicentennial.

Commissioner Dave Hall, second from right, accepts a framed photograph of the Holmes County Courthouse in honor of Holmes County's bicentennial, presented by County Commissioners Association of Ohio Executive Director Cheryl Subler, second from left, at Monday's meeting. Also shown are Commissioner Ray Eyler (seated), Melssa Patrick, chairman of the Holmes Bicentennial Committee, and Commissioner Joe Miller.

Organizations, award amount, event

Following is a list of organizations and events for which grants were given:

  • Holmes County Historical Society, $6,000, marketing Glass Museum and Cultural Center.

  • Holmes County Veterans Memorial, $8,000, Phase II of Veterans Memorial.

  • Holmes County Bicentennial/Chamber of Commerce, $40,000, Holmes County Bicentennial.

  • Holmes County Association for Handicapped Citizens, $2,500, Spring Benefit and Festival.

  • Winebsurg Historical Society, $6,000, restrooms, Laurel Park, Heritage Park and Kinsey Museum.

  • Holmes County Agricultural Society, $7,500, marketing for Holmes County Fair.

  • Harvest Ridge Advisory Board, $7,500, marketing for Harvest Ridge.

  • Holmes County Antique Festival, $5,000.

  • Killbuck Early American Days, $6,000.

  • Glenmont Community Center, $6,000, resurface Community Center parking lot.

  • Marriage for Life, $5,000, conference.

  • Hiland Invitational Amish Basketball Tournament, $5,000.

  • Walnut Creek Business Association, $20,000, Vintage Fair.

  • Scouters of Holmes County, $3,500, purchase storage barn.

  • Clark Community Center, $3,000, Schoolhouse, car show, concert and cornhole.

  • Winesburg Community Business Association, $7,000, e-bike charging station.

  • Berlin Main Street Merchants, $25,000, Harvest Fess and Rib Cook-off, live nativity parade, music on the square.

  • Berlin Township trustees, $5,000, cemetery renovation and street light.

  • Holmes Center for the Arts, $6,358, HCA wireless microphone.

  • Historic Downtown Millersburg, $15,000, Thunder Over Holmes County.

  • Winesburg Parks & Recreation, $9,000, park improvements Phase 2.

  • Classic in the Country, $8,000.

  • Killbuck Valley Museum, $3,000.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Holmes County awards more than $200,000 in bed tax grants