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Community Investment Fund Surpasses $3 Million in Local Impact with Latest Round of Grants

December 15, 2025 – Door County, WI.  Destination Door County (DDC) today announced the latest round of Community Investment Fund grants, awarding $370,747 to seven local projects that advance accessibility, recreation, culture, and environmental stewardship. With these new awards, the program has now supported 59 projects across Door County, reflecting its growing influence on community development.

Recipients include two local municipalities, one non-profit museum, two non-profit arts organizations and two non-profit Friends of Door County State Parks groups, with project investments ranging from $11,150 to $150,000.

All awarded projects must meet specific requirements to qualify for funding. The dollars DDC uses for this program are generated from room taxes that overnight visitors to the county pay and that DDC receives as part of their agreement with the Door County Tourism Zone Commission. Wisconsin state statute dictates the use of those dollars.

“This program embodies what destination management looks like in practice,” said Julie Gilbert, President & CEO of Destination Door County. “We are committed to directing visitor-supported resources toward projects that protect our natural spaces, expand cultural opportunities, and improve accessibility across the peninsula. The result is a community and destination that thrive together.”

The projects that were awarded funding in the program’s eleventh grant cycle include:

  • Town of Sevastopol received support to improve safe and accessible access to Cave Point County Park through new pedestrian and bicycle paths, including the creation of a new Schauer Road access corridor & cul-de-sac. Investment amount: $150.000
  • Door County Maritime Museum received support to develop new exhibit experiences in the Peterson Gallery featuring local maritime history, including an experiential exhibit with interactive activities for youth. Investment amount: $75,000
  • Door Community Auditorium received support for specialty audio and visual equipment in the newly constructed Annex building to grow programming and expand entertainment, cultural, and nightlife offerings for visitors and residents alike. Investment amount: $50,000
  • Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park received support to purchase durable, accessible beach mats that will allow people with limited mobility to navigate the iconic beach while helping protect the fragile dune ecosystem. Investment amount: $43,680
  • Rogue Theater received support to purchase and install a new projector and stage lighting system to enhance year-round multimedia programming and expand offerings for visitors and the broader community. Investment amount: $24,917
  • Friends of Potawatomi State Park received support to acquire trail-grooming equipment that will help keep winter ski trails open as many days as possible and support summer park maintenance. Investment amount: $11,150 (plus $6,350 from other Funds at the Community Foundation!)
  • Village of Ephraim received support for outdoor recreation and sustainability efforts through the purchase and installation of three strategically located water-bottle filling stations throughout the village. Investment amount: $16,000

These seven most recent projects join 52 local projects that previously received grant funding, bringing the total impact from DDC’s Community Investment Fund to $3,105,829 since the program began in May 2023. A list of every grant that has been awarded is available at DoorCounty.com/cif.

The next grant application deadline is Monday, December 22, 2025, at 4 PM. Qualified applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(6) organizations, and local units of government.

Destination Door County encourages any interested local non-profit organization or local municipality to schedule a meeting with the Door County Community Foundation, DDC’s Community Investment Fund administrative partner, to discuss their idea before submitting an application. Call the Community Foundation at 920.746.1786 or email grants@givedoorcounty.org to schedule an appointment. For details about the program and to view funding requirements along with the online application, visit CommunityInvestmentFund.org.

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Destination Door County is the official tourism marketing and management organization for Door County whose mission is to inspire travel that drives community enhancement while working to ensure all travelers feel welcome, preserving the county’s way of life and protecting the region’s natural resources.

Media contact:
Julie Gilbert
President/CEO, Destination Door County

920.818.1131 or julie@doorcounty.com