Indiana Dunes Tourism awards $49K to regional organizations

Indiana Dunes Tourism recently awarded grants to Porter County organizations committed to attracting visitors from outside Northwest Indiana.

The grants will help fund projects, marketing initiatives and events aimed at bringing new and repeat visitors to Porter County.

The 2024 grant recipients are:

• 219 Taproom
• Chesterton Branding and Leadership Corp.
• Dig the Dunes LLC
• Duneland Bike-n-Bar LLC
• Ewalt Jahnz Porter County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #165 Inc.
• Humane Indiana
• Indiana Audubon Society
• Izaak Walton League of America's Porter County Chapter
• Le Tour de Shore LLC
• Leons Heroes
• Northwest Indiana Junior Golf Association
• Northwest Indiana Paddling Association
• Portage Parks
• Porter County Aging
• Community Services and The Market on 12

“Every year, we are thrilled to see our community organizations stepping up to improve the Indiana Dunes area,” said Dustin Ritchea, Indiana Dunes Tourism production director and grant administrator, in a press release .

Porter County for-profit, nonprofit and government organizations, including cities and towns, were eligible to apply for funds for projects including:

• Community development: Eligible projects included the creation or improvement of amenities, attractions, facilities and experiences in Porter County that would entice out-of-county visitors and improve the quality of life for residents.

• Events: Eligible events included Porter County festivals, special events, conventions and tournaments that would attract attendees from outside Northwest Indiana.

• Marketing: Eligible marketing of events or projects targeted audiences outside of Porter County.

“This is what tourism is about,” said Scott Tuft, Indiana Dunes Tourism board member. “It’s about improving this place we call home. Our job is to help visitors appreciate our destination and to help locals understand the value of what tourism can do for them, their businesses and their communities.”

Learn more about the 2025 grant program here .

Indiana Dunes Tourism is based in Porter. The organization provides destination marketing, planning and development for the Indiana Dunes area/Porter County. It was founded in 1984 to diversify the local economy by creating other industries, such as tourism, as the steel industry declined.

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