WELLS — Tourism is an important part of the state’s economy. To make the most of this important industry, the Maine Office of Tourism, with a budget of about $13 to $14 million, is tasked with promoting the state to those “from away.”

That money seems to be well spent. In 2015, tourism brought in about $5.6 million to the state, according to tourism office spokesman Douglas Ray, who added that each year more people are visiting the state.

It’s not just big hotels and restaurants that benefit from the tourism office’s efforts. Supporting small organizations “is part of our effort to support tourism in the state of Maine,” Ray said.

To that end, through its Tourism Enterprise Marketing Grants, the Office of Tourism since 2014, has doled out about $110,000 in grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, as well as larger special event awards.

“Tourism is an integral part of Maine’s economy, supporting 99,000 jobs and contributing to quality of life for Maine residents,” said Commissioner George Gervais of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. “These grants promote the growth of Maine’s tourism industry and help keep our downtowns, cultural institutions, and outdoors heritage vibrant and alive.”

This year, marketing grants totaling $112,000 were allocated to seven groups. In York County, the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce and Laudholm Trust in Wells were both awarded $10,000. Other grant recipients include: the Maine Brewers Guild, L/A Metro Chamber of Commerce, Freeport USA, Vinalhaven Chamber of Commerce, Maine Aviation Business Association and $50,000 Points North Institute/Camden International Film Festival. The awards are to be used for promotion and marketing.

Laudholm Trust will spend its grant promoting the Summer of Art & Sciences, which will be held at the Wells Reserve — the trust partners and raises funds for the reserve. “It’s the first time (for the event) but not the last,” said trust President Nik Charov. “It will be a whole season’s worth of programs exploring arts and science.” He said he thinks both subjects have a lot in common.

“Paying attention to the world is what scientists and artists do. … Exploring how art and science explore the world is a natural fit for the Wells Reserve, a beautiful place devoted to discovery,” Charov said.

The Summer of Art & Science, which begins on Earth Day, April 21, will include numerous programs — workshops, lectures, walks and more — that explore nature through the complementary lenses of art and science. It will also include an outdoor sculpture show, Power of Place, will feature more than 40 sculptures by New England artists that will be placed throughout the Wells Reserve.

The $10,000 will be spent on radio, online and print advertising, and more, Charov said. It “will help us get the word out” about the family-friendly event.

The Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce will also spend its grant on advertising, as well as photography, videography and other forms of promotion for its Launch Maritime Festival, which is in its second season, said the organization’s Executive Director Laura Dolce.

The event, taking place July 17-19 — with a few events to be held earlier — will include a variety of activities, from the Captain’s Cook-Off at Kennebunk’s Waterhouse Center, to the River Lights Boat Parade on the Kennebunk River, the Ship Building Odyssey Experience at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk and much more. Shipyard Brewing will even create a beer specifically for the event by to be sold at Federal Jacks’ restaurant in Kennebunk and KBC Shipyard Store in Kennebunkport. This year’s schedule is expanded from the previous year.

The festival was created in part, said Dolce, because the chamber wanted a a signature event to bring people to the area during a slower time of year and that also brings all three towns together. She noted that the chamber’s motto is “three towns, one community.”

“We thought about what (the three towns) had in common,” Dolce said. “It was really that ship building … maritime history.

“So much of our life is on the water. … We still have how many lobsterman,” she said, as well whale watching and other tourism businesses that rely on the water.

The summer event is expected to do extremely well, Dolce said. Last year, “We were surprised how many events sold out.” To make sure everyone who wants to is able to take part, “we are trying to find ways for more capacity.”

Tickets to events aren’t available yet — look for those beginning in March — however, sponsorships are currently for sale.

Dolce said she thinks the event will be good for the community, both its residents and its businesses, as well as the chamber. The KKA Chamberis the 10th largest in the state and has grown by one-third in the two years Dolce has been at the helm.

For more information on the Launch Maritime Festival, go to launchfestme.org. For more information on the Summer of Art & Science, go to wellsreserve.org.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.