Projects aimed at drawing tourists to Carbon County got a $40,000 boost on Thursday when the commissioners distributed a round of hotel tax grants.

Revenue from the three percent tax, which began in February 2007, is split between the county and the Pocono Mountain Visitor's Bureau. Carbon uses 20 percent of its share for improvements to Mauch Chunk Lake Park, while 28 percent is deposited into the grant fund. The remaining two percent pays administration fees.Commissioners distribute funds from the grant twice a year. With this round, the total distribution comes to about $500,000.Grantees are:• Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, $22,400;• Old Jail Museum & Heritage Center Inc., $1,000 ($500 for flyers/advertising and $500 for brochures);• Big Creek Grange No. 1559, $100 (facilities improvements and 100-year celebration);• Weissport Recreation Committee, $700 (Redneck Festival);• Jim Thorpe Lions Foundation/Asa Packer Mansion Museum, $1,500 (Asa Packer Mansion/St. Mark Church brochures);• Ukrainian Homestead of ODWU, $300 (annual Folk Festival);• Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce, $7,000 (newspaper, magazine, radio, and print promotions);• Concourse Club of Palmerton, $100 (art show);• Panther Creek Valley Foundation, d/b/a No. 9 Coal Mine, $1,250 (annual Coal Miners Festival);• D&L National Heritage Corridor, $500 (Connecting Nature and Commerce in the Lehigh Gorge);• Accommodations Committee of CCEDC, $1,500 (advertising and promotions);• Weatherly Hill Climb Association, $950 (Hill Climb);• Carbon County Lions/Lioness Fair Association, $2,700 (Carbon County Fair).