Over $18,000 in grant money was recently awarded to various tourism and economy-stirring organizations by the Port of South Whidbey.

After hearing presentations during the port’s regular meeting earlier this month, the board agreed to provide the following with grant funding:

The Island Shakespeare Festival, $800; South Whidbey Assembly of God/Celebrate America, $1,010; the Greater Freeland Chamber of Commerce, $5,000; the Whidbey Island Arts Council, $2,500; the Clinton Progressive Association/Mayfest, $800; the Clinton Chamber of Commerce/Clinton Thursday Market, $3,200; and the Whidbey Island Conservation District/Whidbey Island Farm Tour, $1,000. In all, $18,510 was awarded.

The port commissioners annually budget funds to support local economic development and promotion of tourism. The funds are awarded in the form of reimbursement for expenses for economic development via improvement of local business and tourism, or for capital projects which foster economic and tourism development for South Whidbey, according to a news release.

Part of the requirement for returning applicants is to provide information on the use and effectiveness of the previous funding. Among the returning applicants in 2015, they reported that the port funds have helped to bring 23,000 tourists (up to 48 percent are from off-island) to Whidbey Island, and/or to provide them with information about South Whidbey, the release said.