Thanks to the voter-approved Open Space Sales Tax, the Adams County Board of Commissioners awarded over $­­­­2.9 million in open space grants in public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009.

"Many high-quality projects were submitted for consideration this grant cycle," said Larry W. Pace, chairman of the Adams County Board of Commissioners. "We are pleased that funding from the Open Space Sales Tax will help enhance recreational areas, protect open spaces within the county and support environmental education programs for the benefit of our community."

Funding for this grant cycle came from the Adams County Open Space Sales Tax passed by AdamsCounty voters in 1999 and collected during the first six months of 2009.

The Open Space Advisory Board reviewed eight grant applications totaling $5,032,500 in funding requests for this grant cycle and made recommendations to the Adams County Board of Commissioners to fund seven of the projects in the amount of $2,995,500.