Hamilton County Tourism announces 2025 Tourism Gives grant recipients

More than 40 Hamilton County organizations have received a total of $122,000 in grant support provided by Hamilton County Tourism’s 2025 Tourism Gives program. This program administers funds to tourism-focused non-profit organizations, art districts, events, and festivals based in the county.

Hamilton County Tourism launched its Tourism Gives program in 2005 and has provided more than $15 million in grants and support funding to date. The goal of the program is to use the tourism economy as a catalyst to give back to the community it serves.

Buckner

“The Tourism Gives grant program provides support to organizations throughout Hamilton County that collectively create a vibrant, thriving community and destination for people to visit,” Hamilton County Tourism Director of Community Engagement Sarah Buckner said. “It’s inspiring to see the dedication of this year’s grant recipients, and Hamilton County Tourism is honored to play a part in helping them bring their projects to life.”

Hamilton County Tourism’s guidelines for the grant program reflect the organization’s initiatives around regenerative tourism. Each of the projects receiving grant funding must be centered around one of the following areas: planet, prosperity, people, or place.

“Hamilton County Tourism has supported us in many ways throughout the years, and this Tourism Gives grant comes at a pivotal time as our event continues to grow in popularity and attendance,” Indiana Peony Festival CEO Kelly McVey said. “These funds will go toward expanding and enhancing the experience for our visitors, ensuring we can provide even more memorable moments while fostering the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere the Indiana Peony Festival is known for.”

Recipients of the 2025 Tourism Gives grant program include:

• 4-H Fair
• Actors Theatre of Indiana
• Atlanta New Earth Festival
• Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre
• CarmelFest
• Carmel Arts & Design District/City of Carmel
• Carmel Clay Historical Society
• Carmel Community Players
• Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition
• Carmel International Arts Festival
• Carmel Jazz Fest
• Carmel PorchFest
• Carmel Symphony Orchestra
• Center for the Performing Arts
• Cicero Friends of Parks
• Conner Prairie
• Fishers Art Center
• Fishers Arts Council
• Fishers Music Works
• Great American Songbook Foundation
• Gregory Hancock Dance Theater
• Hamilton County Artists’ Association
• Hamilton County Parks & Recreation
• Heartland Film Festival
• Indiana Peony Festival
• Indiana Wind Symphony
• Jackson Township Trustee
• Keep Noblesville Beautiful
• Lights Over Morse
• Museum of Miniature Houses
• Nickel Plate Express
• Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC)
• Noblesville Cultural Arts District
• Noblesville Creates
• Noblesville Front Porch Music Festival
• Noblesville Main Street
• Noblesville Parks
• Roberts Settlement
• SERVE Noblesville
• Sheridan Historical Society
• Sheridan Main Street
• Spark!Fishers
• The Nickel Plate District
• Westfield Playhouse/Main Street Productions
• Westfield Welcome

For additional information on the grants program, contact Hamilton County Tourism Director of Community Engagement Sarah Buckner at sbuckner@hamiltoncountytourism.com.

About Hamilton County Tourism
Hamilton County Tourism Inc. is a nonprofit, destination management organization that promotes tourism growth through strategic marketing, hospitality and development initiatives providing hospitality to more than five million visitors to Hamilton County each year.