September 17, 2025

Bardstown/Nelson County Tourism Awards Record-Breaking $140,000 in Community Grants

BARDSTOWN, KY – Bardstown/Nelson County Tourism has announced the allocation of $140,000 in community grant funding to local nonprofit organizations and government partners—the largest total awarded since the inception of the program. The Community Grant Program is designed to support hospitality-focused projects that promote tourism, drive overnight stays and enhance the visitor experience throughout Nelson County. “Tourism is powered by the people, stories, and experiences that make our region unique,” said Stacey Phelps, President of Bardstown/Nelson County Tourism. “By investing in local nonprofits, we’re not only supporting our community, we’re enhancing the reasons people choose to visit, explore, and return.”

2025 Grant Recipients:

  • Bardstown/Nelson County African American Heritage Museum – $3,000
  • Bardstown for the Arts / The Gallery – $3,500
  • Buttermilk Days Festival – $3,500
  • Cheers to Bardstown – $20,000
  • Civil War Museum – $7,500
  • Bardstown/Nelson County Hospitality Association – $25,000
  • Kentucky Railway Museum – $3,000
  • Naturally Bardstown – $20,000
  • Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History – $10,000
  • The Stephen Foster Story – $27,500
  • Veteran’s Park – $12,000
  • Wickland, Home of Three Governors – $5,000

Eligibility & Impact

Grant eligibility is open to government and nonprofit organizations located within Nelson County. Applicants must attend the Hospitality Association’s mandatory grant training and submit projects that are tourism-focused—such as marketing, signage, website development, and event promotion. Each project must demonstrate its potential to generate day trips, overnight stays, and enhanced visitor engagement.

This year’s record-breaking investment reflects Bardstown/Nelson County Tourism’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the local economy and advancing Bardstown’s reputation as the Bourbon Capital of the World® and a premier destination for travelers seeking authentic Kentucky experiences.

For more information about the Community Grant Program, visit www.visitbardstown.com or contact Bardstown/Nelson County Tourism at (502) 348-4877.