HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners on February 20 approved the dispersal of some $28,000 in tourism promotion funding for the coming tourist season.

The money was derived from hotel excise tax collections and then awarded as grants to 17 area programs, with an emphasis on funding projects that enhance opportunities for or partner with facilities and programs providing overnight stays.

Wayne County Tourism and Promotion Committee spokesman Eric Lansbery said the committee received grant applications totaling $40,000.

A $2,000 grant maximum was applied, but additional funding was available for partnering applicants.

Only one of the 17, the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary and Dorflinger Museum at White Mills, won the larger grant at $4,000.

Other grants winners for $2,000 included the GDS (Greene, Dreher, Sterling) Fair, the Women’s Club of Honesdale, the Greater Honesdale Partnership, The Cooperage Project, and Wayne County’s Arts Alliance, Creative Arts Council, Historical Society and Campground Owners Association.

Other grants included $1,500 to the Wayne County WMCA and the Friends of Prompton State Park; $1,200 to the Wayne County Library Film Series; $1,000 to the Historians of Sterling Township and the Equinunk Historical Society; $950 to Waymart Parties in the Park; $600 to the Damascus Historical Society; and $185 to the Penny House 5K in Lake Ariel.

Reservoir storm buffer recommended

In other business, the commissioners approved endorsement of a resolution initiated by the Sussex County (NJ) Freeholders, calling for the “decree parties” of the 1954 Supreme Court decision to agree to a reduction of New York City’s Delaware reservoir storage levels. The reduction would create buffer storage to withhold storm spillage to help mitigate the impacts of heavy seasonal downstream flooding.