The Youth and Amateur Sports Grant and Michael Erin Busch Fund (Grant & Fund) allows the Maryland Sport Commission to be more responsive, effective and efficient within the sport tourism and sports event industry for Maryland’s betterment. The funds give Maryland Sports the ability to compete against the highest level of competitors in the industry while enriching our private sector event partners, rights holders and sports governing bodies, thus generating more revenues to and garnering more positive exposure for the State. The highlights of the Grant & Fund include allowing Maryland to surpass our competitor set on a more even playing field regionally, nationally and internationally, leading the sport tourism industry, generating more revenues and securing more opportunities through youth and amateur sports, and sustaining and strengthening Maryland's reputation in the sport tourism industry. Since inception, the Maryland Sports Commission, in concert with TEAM Maryland partners, has touched over 3,500 events generating more than $1.775 billion in direct spending on Maryland’s economy.