The Porter County Convention, Recreation, and Visitors Commission has awarded $42,000 in grants to 25 local non-profit organizations.

At its meeting Wednesday, the PCCRVC voted to award $42,000 of the $50,000 which it annually awards, leaving $8,000 to award to any event in 2010 not yet announced.

There were 33 grant applications requesting a total of $80,658.95 in funding.

Grant recipients:

•Art in the Garden 2010, $500.

•Aukiki River Festival, $1,500.

•Bark in the Park, $2,000.

•52nd annual Chesterton Art Fair, $2,000.

•Chesterton European Market, $2,500.

•Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival, $3,000.

•Duneland Harvest Festival, $600.

•Elvis FANtasy Fest, $2,500.

•Fall Harvest and Antique Equipment Show, $1,500.

•Seventh annual Gardening Show, $1,500.

•Institute of Liturgical Studies, $2,500.

•Kouts Christmas Open House, $1,400.

•Kouts Porkfest, $2,500.

•Museums of Porter County Brochure, $1,000.

•Music in Nature Series, $500.

•Portage Community Market, $500.

•Portage Countryside Historical Festival, $1,000.

•Portage Perch Fest and Gran Prix.

•Treasure of the Past, $1,000.

•Valpo Kiwanis Hot Air Balloon Fest, $2,500.

•National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, $1,000.

•AAU Track and Field, $2,500.

•34th annual Duneland Woodcarvers Show, $500.

•25th annual VU Jazz Fest, $2,500.

•11th annual Golden Spike Seminar, $1,000.

In addition, with moneys left over from the 2009 grant fund the board voted to award up to $3,000 to the Lutheran Basketball Association of American for its 2010 tournament, held at Valparaiso University for over 30 years.

All grant recipients will be notified by mail.

Posted 12/3/2009