Maryland Sports Commission Distributed More Than $1 Million in Grants in 2022

The Maryland Sports Commission has announced it distributed more than $1 million in grants to more than 60 youth and amateur sport tourism events throughout the state of Maryland for fiscal year 2022.

The contributions, made through the Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grant & Michael Erin Busch Fund, account for all money distributed between July 2021 and June 30, 2022.

“It’s because of this grant that many of our local partners at the DMO (Destination Marketing Organization), CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureaus), and Recreation and Parks-level are able to attract and retain sport tourism events which have an incredible economic impact in their respective communities and regions,” said Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission.

Hasseltine added that Maryland Sports opened the application pool for FY 2023 events (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) earlier this week.

“The impact of the YASG & Busch Fund are allowing us to host over 900 teams in events in the state of Maryland through this summer,” said Krystin Porcella of Top of the Bay Sports, which hosts numerous events throughout the calendar year.

Fourteen jurisdictions in Maryland received funding through the grant to assist and help offset the operating costs necessary to execute major sport tourism events, games, matches, showcases and tournaments.

In addition to providing money to help offset the execution of sport tourism and other major sporting events, the grant allows Maryland Sports & TEAM Maryland to attend various industry conferences around the country in an attempt to secure new events to the state, and to continue the operation of the Maryland Sports Spelling Bee, a regional qualifier for the perennial Scripps National Spelling Bee at National Harbor in Prince George’s County.