IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING, GPTMC AWARDS $288,000
TO 26 ORGANIZATIONS TO BOOST TOURISM

PHILADELPHIA, December 25, 2002 – Merry Christmas! The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today announced grants to 26 Philadelphia-area organizations totaling $288,795 for projects that show potential to increase tourism to the region. GPTMC’s 2003 grants are designed to supplement marketing programs for established projects and to develop future tourism products, such as the Philadelphia Neighborhood Tour program.

“GPTMC grants provide regional organizations the ability to expand their advertising plans and, in some cases, can be used to improve the tourists’ experience while they are here,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, GPTMC. “GPTMC further supports every grant dollar with GPTMC’s public relations, cooperative advertising and Internet services.” 

Among the 2003 grantees are: Eastern State Penitentiary ($10,000), the Philadelphia Fringe Festival ($20,000) and Art Sanctuary ($6,000). The Art Sanctuary will use the grant to further develop a play about the history of North Philadelphia, which will be incorporated into the Philadelphia Neighborhood Tours. This spring, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Tours will take visitors to six neighborhoods including North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, Chinatown, University City, Germantown, Northern Liberties and the North Philadelphia’s Latino community. A full grant list is attached.

Grant proposals submitted to GPTMC were evaluated on the following criteria: compelling nature of the project, potential to positively impact image, number of potential visitors and overnight stays, public relations potential, partner relationships and marketing plans.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

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Note to Editors: For story angles and photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit www.gophila.com/pressroom.  

December 2002

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