PHILADELPHIA, PA.- The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) brings tidings of comfort and joy to 29 regional arts and culture organizations that will receive a total of $315,800 in marketing grants for events and projects with substantial potential to draw tourists to the region. Since 1997, GPTMC has awarded more than 200 marketing grants totaling more than $3.8 million.

Several of the grants aim to promote Ben Franklin 300 Philadelphia, a city-wide effort to celebrate the 300th birthday of Philadelphia's most famous citizen, with out-of-market advertising and a half-hour television special. Other grants will support special events related to anniversary celebrations for Philadelphia's most vibrant organizations, including Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts' 200th anniversary, the Philadelphia Art Alliance's 90th anniversary, the Odunde Festival's and Taller Puertorriqueno's 30th anniversaries and Jam on the River's 20th anniversary.

The push towards multicultural marketing and tourism product development will continue next year with GPTMC grants to support six neighborhood organizations, including the Asociacion de Musicos Latino Americanos, Art Sanctuary, Johnson House Historic Site, New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and Spiral Q Puppet Theater. University City District will use its $8,500 grant to produce and promote an ethnic dining guide to nearly 60 restaurants.

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. Since 1997, grant projects have generated more than $3 million in room-night revenue.