NATCHEZ — Newly allocated tourism grant funding will be making its way to Natchez and bolstering the bottom line for two local institutions.

Rep. Bob Dearing was able to earmark the funding for Natchez when a fellow representative notified him that there was $5,000 in grant funding available.

“This kind of thing just doesn’t come around too often, so when it does, it’s great,” Dearing said.

The Phatwater Kayak Challenge and the Natchez Association for the Preservation of African-American Culture Museum will each be receiving $2,500 in grant funding.

Dearing said after learning the funding was available, he contacted Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau Media Liaison Sally Durkin for ideas on what local groups could best benefit from the grant.

Durkin said she immediately thought of the museum and the kayak race.

“NAPAC was an easy choice,” Durkin said. “They just got the African art exhibit and need help with funding right now.”

Durkin said she believed the kayak race has the ability to grow into a larger event each year and felt additional funding will aid that growth.

Phatwater founder Keith Benoist said the $2,500 grant makes up a substantial portion of the event’s funding.

“It costs us about $15,000 to put the race on, so this is huge for us,” Benoist said. “It’s major.”

The race, now going into its eighth year, brings paddlers from across the country together for a 42-mile sprint down the Mississippi River.

Benoist said while he doesn’t have any set plans for the money yet, with a tight budget, everything helps.

“This just fell out of the sky on us,” he said. It’s just a tremendous help.”

And like Benoist, NAPAC Director Darrell White said while he only recently learned the funding would be heading to the museum and has no plans for the money yet, it’s greatly appreciated.

“It’s an amazing gift,” White said.

White said the money will likely be used to offset the shipping cost the museum incurred when the paid to have an African art exhibit imported.

White said that put a $1,700 dent in the museum’s budget.

“And this is a great enhancement,” White said. “This gives us some breathing room. It lets us keep the lights on and the doors open. No matter what we spend it on, it’s going to help keep us alive and functioning.”