by Jamie Rucker, USTA Outreach Program

Columbus, OH — The application deadline is fast approaching for the USTA’s 2007 Matching Funds Grant program. The deadline is Monday, April 16, 2007.

The Matching Funds Grant was created in 2006 to help sponsor marketing and publicity campaigns at county fairs and with great success, the USTA has once again made available $10,000 in grant money to promote harness racing throughout the country.

Local fair boards, fair circuits and horsemen’s associations have the opportunity to create a marketing and/or publicity proposal, a detailed budget and a statement of need to submit for judging. The USTA will match up to $500 for each winning proposal. For more information or to request an application, contact Jamie Rucker at 877-800-8782, extension 3260, or jamie.rucker@ustrotting.com.

Winning 2006 grant proposals included ideas such as: live radio broadcast of races, restaurant placemats to promote an entire circuit, flyers in local newspapers, a traveling exhibit to celebrate the 75th anniversary of harness racing in multiple counties, a photo mug giveaway, visits by 2000 Horse of the Year Gallo Blue Chip, bringing in Roger Huston as a guest announcer, and various forms of advertising that included radio, television and signage.