tourism grant money

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

Promoting america’s tourist communities.

• Share this page

EDA Awards 185 Grants to Rebuild and Restrengthen American Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Fact Sheet  (PDF)

American Rescue Plan Fact Sheet  (PDF)

Click here to view the American Rescue Plan Map

The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program invested $750 million in  American Rescue Plan  funding to support communities across the country whose economies were hard hit by damage to these sectors from the COVID-19 pandemic. With funding going to every state and territory across 185 awards, EDA’s investments are rebuilding the travel and tourism sector and creating a more equitable, competitive, and resilient industry.

Learn more about the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation grantees by exploring the  American Rescue Plan Impact Map .

The Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program is divided into two components:

• State Tourism Grants:  $510 million in direct awards to help states quickly invest in marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business and international travel.
• Competitive Grants:  $240 million to help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce, or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future.

Each state or territory is utilizing its directly allocated funds to engage in activities that best support their travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors. These activities include but are not limited to workforce training, new construction or upgrades to existing tourism infrastructure, tourism marketing and promotion, and tourism-related economic planning. The competitive grant program is distributed across 126 awards to support communities across the country as they rebuild and strengthen their travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors. The competitive funding is expected to generate $1.1 billion in private investment and to create or save 10,291 jobs , according to grantee estimates. This program was designed to prioritize equity, and as a result, more than 50% of competitive awards are expected to directly benefit historically underserved communities and populations. In addition, $29.3 million across 12 awards is supporting coal communities and $21.2 million across 9 awards is supporting Indigenous communities.

Program Resources

• Notice of Funding Opportunity
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation presentation slides  (PDF)
• State Tourism Grant Allocations
• One Pager  (PDF)
• Visit www.eda.gov/contact to find contact information for your Economic Development Representative
• EDA Program List
• Find Open Funding
• Resources & Tools
• Accessibility
• Commerce.gov
• EDA Archives
• Information Quality
• Massachusetts
• Operating Policies
• Privacy Policy

SWT Grant Programs

State of Washington Tourism (SWT) offers multiple grant opportunities for tourism stakeholders. In addition to recurring grant programs such as Tourism Sustainability and Rural Tourism Support , SWT will also administer funds for exciting new grant programs in 2024-2025. These programs are made possible thanks to $3.5 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) block grant funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Eligible entities: Local governments, tribes, chambers of commerce, destination organizations, and other nonprofit organizations that support travel and tourism are welcome to apply for this grant. Note: Only tribal destinations/communities are eligible for tribal-focused grants.

Applications: Grant application periods open throughout the year. Once open, applicants can apply for individual grant programs via a secure online portal. Successful applicants will be notified within three weeks of the application closing date. View the WizeHive application portal FAQ here .

Webinars: SWT will hold webinars for each grant in the weeks leading up to the application period. The webinars will cover how to apply and the criteria by which the applications will be judged, along with providing more in-depth descriptions of the grant. An overview webinar was held on Dec. 13, 2023. A PDF version is also available.

See application dates and browse all SWT grant opportunities below. For questions, please contact Tamara Rice at  [email protected] .

Rural Tourism Marketing and Production

Rural Tourism Marketing and Production Grants will help communities create the assets they need to promote their destination to travelers to generate overnight stays and stimulate visitor spending. This grant supports rural and underserved communities. Tourism stakeholders may request up to $50,000 in grant funding for content creation for blog posts and articles, as well as the production of video and image assets. Assets may include photos, videos, and written content, as well as usage rights for the applicant and SWT. View the Webinar .

Application Period: Currently closed

Sports Incentivization

The Sports Incentivization Grants are intended to help nonprofit entities incentivize NEW sports tournaments/competitions that will bring overnight visitors to a destination to spur economic activity. Successful applicants will be able to reserve dollars from a pool to help pay down room nights or provide amenities pending a successful bid. If a bid is ultimately unsuccessful, those dollars will go back into the pool and be available to other applicants according to a ranked waitlist. The max grant ask is $30,000. View the Webinar .

Rural Tourism Research and Data

The primary purpose of the Rural Tourism Research and Data Grants is to discover and share critical information that can improve the efficiency, sustainability, and overall economic impact of the local tourism industry. It may also aim to support projects that analyze tourism trends, visitor behavior, cultural exchange, environmental impacts, and other topics that help inform policy decisions and support tourism growth in a region. Tourism stakeholders may request up to $25,000. View the Webinar .

Arts and Culture

The Arts and Culture grants are intended for the promotion and management of art shows, concerts, festivals and events, as well as museums, historic sites, and cultural institutes that drive overnight stays and visitor spending in destination communities. These grants aim to boost the local economy by attracting overnight visitors who are interested in experiencing the artistic and cultural offerings of a people and a place while mitigating any negative impacts on residents, social services, and public infrastructure. The max grant ask is $30,000. View the webinar.

Indigenous Tourism Marketing and Production

Indigenous Tourism Marketing and Production grants will help tribal communities create the assets they need to promote their destination to travelers to generate overnight stays and stimulate visitor spending. Tourism stakeholders may request up to $50,000 in grant funding for content creation for blog posts and articles, as well as production of video and image assets. Grant applicants need to budget for long-term usage rights for their organization and SWT. View the webinar.

Application Period: April 1 – 30, 2024

Learn More & Apply

Rural Tourism Support Program

The RTS program focuses on long-term, sustainable destination development for underserved communities. It implements a community tourism approach that includes stakeholder surveys, community workshops, priority projects, and strategic planning from a steering committee. Upon completion of the program, stakeholders are encouraged to apply for financial assistance from SWT and other funding sources to support priority projects. View the webinar.

Technical Assistance

The Technical Assistance Grant will subsidize the cost of industry-specific expertise for tourism-related projects that stimulate economic development for destination communities. Eligible projects for grant funding may include design plans for tourism infrastructure, marketing expertise, workforce training programs, and other consulting services for tourism pursuits. Washington-based tourism stakeholders may request up to $15,000 in grant funding based on project eligibility. View the webinar.

Application Period: April 15 – May 14, 2024

Tourism Regeneration

This grant is intended to foster safer, more inclusive, and sustainable visitor experiences across the state and drive overnight visitation to rural and underserved communities. Project eligibility for Tourism Regeneration Grants ranges significantly from pedestrian and bicyclist safety along roadways to tourism marketing to disaster and climate adaptation planning. They may also include but are not limited to outdoor recreation, business and creative districts, and main street associations in Washington. Max grant ask is $50,000.

Application Period: Sept. 2 – 30, 2024

Tribal Rural Tourism Support Program

The Tribal RTS program focuses on long-term, sustainable destination development for tribal communities. It implements a community tourism approach that includes stakeholder surveys, community workshops, priority projects, and strategic planning from a steering committee. Upon completion of the program, stakeholders are encouraged to apply for financial assistance from SWT and other funding sources to support priority projects identified in the community workshops.

Application Period: Oct. 1 – 31, 2024

Tourism Sustainability

The Tourism Sustainability Grant is a recurring grant offered by SWT that aims to foster safer, more inclusive, and sustainable visitor experiences in Washington. Applicants may request up to $30,000 in grant funding based on project eligibility. Project eligibility may include capital projects, new festivals and events, outdoor recreation, wayfinding improvements, and more.

Cultural Tourism Funding Opportunities

AIANTA collects funding opportunities that may be of interest to Indigenous or Native American tourism & hospitality enterprises looking to grow their tourism, culture, heritage, arts, agritourism or other culture and heritage programming.

Open Funding Opportunities

Receive AIANTA Updates

AIANTA Newsletters

View the AIANTA Newsletter Archive for more information.

Guides & Publications

USDA Resource Guide for American Indians and Alaska Natives

The USDA recently published a Resource Guide for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) to provide tribal leaders and tribal citizens, 1994 Land-Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities, AI/AN businesses and non-governmental organizations serving AI/AN communities with a tool for navigating USDA resources. This guide provides readers with a comprehensive summary of USDA Programs.  

Recreation Economy at USDA Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities

USDA’s Forest Service (FS), Rural Development (RD) and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) developed this resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy. The report forecasts that interest in outdoor recreation will continue over the next 30 years.

Resources for Rural Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Planning, Adapting, and Growing Your Business

In 2022, in collaboration with a network of federal partners, the USDA Resources for Rural Entrepreneurs guide provides resources for start-ups and already-established rural businesses. RD offers more than 40 loan, grant, and technical assistance programs to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. Many of these programs can also support community-based entrepreneurial planning and growth. USDA partners with community leaders and developers, local, state and Tribal governments, cooperatives, nonprofits, private organizations and a nationwide network of participating lenders skilled at building local economies.

Stronger Together, Federal funding and planning strategies designed to promote sustainable economic development in rural America

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) published Stronger Together a joint planning resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America. The guide is separated into four key focus areas: Planning and technical assistance, Infrastructure and broadband expansion, Entrepreneurship and business assistance and Workforce development and livability.

Federal Resources for Native Arts & Cultural Activities

In 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts published the Federal Resources for Native Arts & Cultural Activities, a guide providing information to connect Native communities to resources that can sustain and invigorate arts and cultural heritage initiatives. It is a consolidation of opportunities offered by federal agencies for organizations looking for funding and other resources to support Native arts and culture activities.

Grants.gov provides a unified site for interaction between grant applicants and the U.S. federal agencies that manage grant funds. The site allows applicants to search for funds by agency.

Federal Agencies

• U.S. Department of Commerce
• Economic Development Administration (EDA) 
• Small Business Administration 
• Regional Innovation Strategies 
• Minority Business Development Agency 

U.S. Department of Interior

• Bureau of Indian Affairs 
• National Park Service 
• Fish and Wildlife Service 
• Bureau of Land Management 
• Bureau of Reclamation 

Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S. Department of Interior)

• Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development
• Division of Transportation 
• Division of Economic Development 

National Park Service (Department of Interior)

• Grants & Financial Assistance
• Tourism Program 
• Tribal Preservation Program 
• National Historic Landmarks 
• National Register of Historic Places 
• Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program 
• Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Division 
• Cultural Resources 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih

• Office of Economic Development 
• Indian Community Development Block Grant 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Administration for Native Americans (ANA)
• Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS)
• Sustainable Employment and Economic Development Strategies (SEEDS)
• Native Youth Initiative for Leadership, Empowerment, and Development (I-LEAD)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• Business & Industry Loan Guarantees 
• Community Connect Grants 
• Rural Business Investment Program 
• Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program 
• Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program 
• Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant 
• Strategic Economic and Community Development 
• Value-Added Producer Grants 
• U.S. Forest Service (trail construction, archaeology)

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

• Our Town ($25,000 – $200,000) 
• Challenge America ($10,000 underserved populations)
• Art Works ($10,000 – $100,000)

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

• Division of Preservation and Access 
• Documenting Endangered Languages
• Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections
• Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions 
• Office of Challenge Programs

Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS)

• Native American Library Services: Basic Grants 
• Native American Library Services: Enhancement Grants 
• Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants 
• Museums for America 
• Inspire! Grants for Small Museums 
• Museums Empowered 
• National Leadership Grants for Museums
• Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
• Museum Assessment Program 
• Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries 

U.S. Department of Transportation www.transportation.gov/grants

• Office of Infrastructure Finance and Innovation 
• National Scenic Byways Program 
• Office of Tribal Transportation 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities 

State Tourism, Arts & Economic Development Agencies

Arts.gov State and Regional Arts Councils arts.gov/partners/state-regional

California Arts Council arts.ca.gov/grants

California Governor’s Office of Business & Economic  Development business.ca.gov

Montana Tourism Office marketmt.com

Nevada Arts Council: Folklife Community Grant nvartscouncil.org/grants

New Mexico Tourism Office newmexico.org/industry/work-together/grants

Oregon Tourrism traveloregon.com/grants

Additional Resources

Community Foundations www.cof.org/community-foundation-locator The Council on Foundations, founded in 1949, is a nonprofit leadership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Use their search tool to find local funding resources.

The Grantsmanship Center www.tgci.com The Grantsmanship Center offers training, publications and consulting to help organizations find funding. The Center provides free access to its Funding State-by-State database listing each state’s top grantmaking foundations, community foundations, corporate giving programs and State website homepages.

Candid (formerly the Foundation Center and GuideStar) candid.org/

Candid is an online source for grants available through private foundations, corporate foundations, and other nonprofits that accept grant proposals. It also provides research on nonprofits and guides, like the 990 Finder.

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Native American Agriculture Fund

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Bureau of Land Management

National Endowment of the Arts

National Park Service

United States Forest Service

Ready to be a part of the AIANTA story?

• About AIANTA
• Support AIANTA

FY25 Destination Development Capital Grants

The Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) is committed to helping communities contribute to the long-term strength and sustainability of the Commonwealth. The FY25 Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program is a competitive grant program that will award funds to improve facilities and destinations visited by in state and out-of-state travelers, with the goals of increasing visitation, enticing repeat visitation, and increasing the direct and indirect economic impacts of the tourism industry in all regions of the commonwealth.

Eligible projects will enhance tourism resources and infrastructure and will aid in destination resiliency. Applications will be accepted for projects that include plans to expand, construct, restore or renovate Massachusetts tourism destinations and attractions. Applicants must demonstrate how the tourism capital project will work to promote the tourism goals of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the corresponding Regional Tourism Council. The DDC grant is focused on capital improvements with a direct relationship to tourism, and other physical/structural items with a greater than five-year lifespan. In accordance with the ResilientMass Plan , projects that include elements intended to increase the climate resilience of a tourism destination or attraction will receive consideration in the review process.   Projects with a presence in a Designated Cultural District, locations within rural communities, and nexus with commemorations of the 250th anniversary of American Independence may receive priority consideration.

The Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program anticipates awarding up to $6,000,000 in FY25, subject to funding availability. 

The grant process opens on April 22, 2024 with applications due May 31, 2024.

Grant awards are anticipated to be announced in June 2024, subject to appropriation.

Projects must be completed by June 30, 2025

Please read the grant guidelines and attend the Q/A session on Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. To register, please contact Marc Zappulla . If you have a specific question, please include that in your email.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

• A public agency, municipality, or nonprofit organization incorporated in Massachusetts with 501(c)3, 501(c)5, 501(c)6, status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that does one of the following:     a. Produces, promotes, or presents tourism attractions and activities for the public.     b. Provides public access to physical collections and exhibits.
• In operation for at least two consecutive years since January 2020.
• Agency must be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and city/town: Must be current on all taxes due through December 31, 2022; and have active and valid state licenses/registrations, if applicable.
• Applicants must have spent at least $15,000 in a fiscal year on tourism related items.
• Applicant must indicate how they are addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organization.
• Applications must be complete, must include all required documentation and be submitted through the online portal, by the deadline, in order to be considered.      Ineligible Organizations: 1) For-profit organizations 2) Any organization whose sole or primary purpose is to fundraise 3) Public colleges and universities, and entities that receive state-level operating support or non-project support directly from the Massachusetts General Fund 4) Organizations not located in Massachusetts

Grants & Funding

The Grants & Funding team supports the Colorado tourism industry by offering funding opportunities that strengthen and enhance Colorado’s competitiveness, respond to industry needs, and align industry efforts.

Grants & Funding Goals:

• Build a robust tourism economy through funding support for tourism industry partners 
• Grow funding opportunities to support an evolving tourism landscape
• Offer meaningful opportunities that maximize return on investment (ROI) by leveraging funds to optimize impact 
• Create alignment between funding opportunities and other CTO offerings to maximize industry partner benefit 

Through funding opportunities, the Grants and Funding team hopes to:

• Strengthen the tourism industry through increased economic impact 
• Foster industry collaboration among partners and the CTO
• Strengthen and reinforce the Colorado brand
• Enhance the visitor experience
• Strengthen the visitor economy while respecting our resources and quality of life

Programs, Initiatives & Opportunities

Tourism Marketing Matching Grant provides funding to support destination and industry association marketing efforts.

Tourism Management Grant provides funding to support projects that develop, enhance or better manage visitor experiences.

Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference Professional Scholarship helps tourism professionals attend the annual Governor's Tourism Conference .

Past Programs, Initiatives & Opportunities

Meeting & Events Cash Rebate provided a 10% cash rebate against eligible hard costs for hosting meetings and events in Colorado that take place  on or before June 30, 2024.

Meeting & Events Direct Support Grant provided up to 50% of eligible direct support costs, not to exceed $200,000 for hosting events in Colorado that took place on or before June 30, 2024.

Tourism Recovery Marketing Grant, funded through an EDA American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation State Grant , awarded $1.8 million in funding to support the economic recovery of the travel and tourism industry in Colorado through the execution of tourism marketing and promotional campaigns.  

Grants and Funding Team

Elizabeth O'Rear

Shellie Kark

Sign up for email updates.

Sign up to receive the  Tourism Tuesday newsletter , which provides weekly updates on Colorado Tourism Office programs.

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Official site of the state of new jersey.

• FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google™ Translate. Google™ Translate is an online service for which the user pays nothing to obtain a purported language translation. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. - Read Full Disclaimer

• Search close

New Jersey Historic Trust Affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs

Heritage Tourism Grants

Application & instructions.

All applicants are required to submit the online application, as well as a USB with all required attachments by the application deadline of April 18, 2024  at 4:00pm. The Trust has also provided Word and PDF versions of the application so that applicants can view the application in its entirety. We highly recommend that you type your answers into the Word version of the application first, and then copy/paste into the online application to avoid any potential loss of data. 

Click here for the Online Heritage Tourism Application

Click here for the Word version of the Heritage Tourism Application

Click here for the PDF version of the Heritage Tourism Application

Below is a link to the Heritage Tourism Supporting Documents Checklist. This checklist includes all of the attachments for the Heritage Tourism application. The attachments must be uploaded onto a USB drive and delivered either via mail or in-person to the Trust office by April 18, 2024  at 4:00pm. If you are having trouble completing all of the required attachments, please reach out to  NJHT staff  directly.

Click here for the Heritage Tourism Supporting Documents Checklist

Grant Requests & Matching Funds

Heritage Tourism grant requests may range from $5,000 to $75,000. Grant applicants are eligible for a 3:1 funding match in which the Trust may provide up to 75% of total project costs, not to exceed $75,000. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to match 25% of the total project cost for which the grant is requested.

Eligible Applicants and Ownership Criteria

• Entities of county, municipal, or state government
• 501(c) tax exempt organizations that comply with  New Jersey charity registration laws

Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply for projects that benefit churches and houses of worship.

All applicants must submit the signed  Applicant's Governing Body/Board Resolution and Assurance form with each application. It should be included as Attachment A on the USB drive. 

There are no ownership or lease requirements for Heritage Tourism grants, but if the applicant does not own the resource, they should demonstrate support for the project from the resource owners through the  Owner Approval  (Attachment B) and/or documentation of community support (Attachment G) on the USB drive.

Eligible Properties

For Heritage Tourism grants, at least one resource involved in the project must be either:

• Individually listed in the NJ or National Register of Historic Places
• Contributing resource to a historic district listed in the NJ or National Register OR
• Certified eligible for listing by the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer

The property must be listed or certified eligible for listing by  August 1, 2024  in order to be considered for funding in this grant round.  

Eligible Activities

• Visitor-readiness assessments
• Visitor evaluations and/or development of performance evaluation measures
• Interpretive planning for one or multiple sites and/or to develop and enhance linkages between sites
• Design and fabrication of interpretive signage or literature
• Marketing plans and studies
• Design and fabrication of marketing materials
• Training and workshops, including speaker honoraria, that create, foster, or enhance linkages between sites.

If a heritage tourism planning activity other than those listed above is proposed, please consult with staff to determine if it is an eligible activity.

Please see the  Grant Guidelines  for a list of ineligible activities.  Contact Trust staff if you do not see your proposed activity listed. 

Criteria for Funding

The following criteria will be used to evaluate and rank applications for these grant funds:

• Degree to which the project enhances or benefits the visitor experience at the resource(s)
• Degree to which the project fosters the goals and objectives of the New Jersey Heritage Tourism Plan
• Degree to which the project addresses the development of heritage tourism within an already existing plan or aims to create a broader regional tourism plan or initiative
• Project concept and team, including: the quality and appropriateness of the project, proposed consultants, budget, and schedule
• Organizational ability, including: the degree to which the applicant will build upon this proposal and continue to foster heritage tourism, and the availability of matching funds
• Public benefit, including: potential to reach new audiences, potential to promote other cultural and heritage tourism activities, ability to create links between multiple sites, demonstrated community support, distribution of funds throughout the state and to a variety of projects, and ability of this grant to make a difference in the quality of this project

Application Attachments

Below are links to the application attachments for the Heritage Tourism grant application:

Owner Approval

Applicant's Governing Body/Board Resolution

Project Expenditure Worksheet

Image X of Y

Shapiro Administration Opens Application Period for Sports Marketing and Tourism Program Grants

• April 22, 2024

Pennsylvania is a world-class destination, with the most passionate and dedicated fanbase in the world – and Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration is working hard to attract more marquee sporting events to the Commonwealth to drive tourism and economic growth.

SMAT has helped bring nationally known sporting events to Pennsylvania – including the 2026 World Cup, the 2025 United States Men’s Open, the 2024 United States Women’s Open, and more.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced that the application period for grants through DCED’s Sports Marketing and Tourism Program (SMAT) opened this morning, April 22 at 9:00AM EST. The application period will close on June 30 at 4:00PM EST.

The Sports Marketing and Tourism Program was created to attract high-quality, amateur, and professional sporting and e-sports events to Pennsylvania. The goal of the investment in the program is to capitalize on the influx of tourism that comes with hosting a major national or international event, which can increase sales to both large and small businesses in the surrounding area and in turn boost the regional economy, as well as improve the quality of life for residents.

“This is an exciting time for Pennsylvania as we prepare to host a number of incredibly exciting events in the coming years, including the 2026 World Cup, the 2024 USGA Women’s Open, and the 2025 USGA Men’s Open,” said Secretary Siger. “SMAT is helping to bring major events like these to the Commonwealth, providing a huge boost to our economy. With the new application period opening up, we look forward to supporting even more major sporting events here in the coming years.”

Eligible program applicants include a municipality, a local authority, a nonprofit organization, or a legal entity that meets all of the following criteria:

• The applicant participates or plans to participate in a competitive selection process;
• The site selection process is conducted by a Site Selection Organization not located in Pennsylvania; and
• The applicant is seeking to secure a single year or multiyear commitment from a site selection organization to conduct high quality, amateur and professional sporting or esports events at one or more locations in Pennsylvania.

Last September, DCED announced the previous round of SMAT grant approvals , with $5 million in grant funding awarded. Recipients included Philadelphia Soccer for the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia, the United States Golf Association (USGA) for the 2025 United States Men’s Open in Oakmont, and the 2024 United States Women’s Open in Lancaster.

Applicants can use DCED’s Electronic Single Application (ESA) to apply. For full program guidelines, visit the Sports Marketing and Tourism website .

For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit DCED website , and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook , X , and LinkedIn .

MEDIA CONTACT: Penny Ickes, [email protected]

• DCED Funding tourism

Visit Albuquerque prohibits users from downloading images from our website.

Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Program

The mission of Visit Albuquerque is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a destination for leisure travel, meetings and sports events.

In 2022 Albuquerque’s City Council voted unanimously to establish an Albuquerque Tourism Marketing District (ATMD). The ATMD is a coalition of approximately 150 local lodging properties that have organized efforts in order to increase demand for overnight visitation to our city. The ATMD provides additional funds to expand marketing of Albuquerque, enhance visitor services and develop destination assets. This year, 5% of ATMD revenue supports annual tourism grants. 

The overarching goal of the Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant program is to spark innovative ideas that contribute to Albuquerque’s vibrancy and build new, creative visitor and resident experiences that grow a more diverse and thriving tourism economy. 

Please fill out this application to apply for a Tourism Grant.

To view a list of commonly-asked questions, click here .

2024 Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Information 

Please view the  Tourism Grant Program Guide .

Mandatory Informational Workshops for Interested Applicants

Tourism grant applicants must attend one of the following informational workshops:

Date: April 25, 2024  Time: 11 a.m. Location: Virtual ( Register Here )

Date: May 7, 2024 Time: 10 a.m. Location: In-person, location TBD ( Register Here )

Date: May 21, 2024 Time: 1 p.m. Location: Virtual ( Register Here )

Send questions to  [email protected] .

Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Awardees

See the Tourism Grant Awardee page to view a full list of previous tourism grant awardees.

An official website of the State of North Dakota

Language: English

The State of North Dakota provides automatic translation for nd.gov websites, courtesy of Google Translate. Please remember, though, that the English language version is considered the most accurate. In the event of a disagreement or discrepancy between the translation and the original English version of this web site or any notice or disclaimer, the original version will prevail.

• Community Services Team
• American with Disabilities
• Third Party Inspection

• Community Development and Rural Prosperity
• CDBG-Cares Act
• Economic Development
• Public Facilities
• Public Services
• Regional Councils
• Consolidated Plan
• Renaissance Zone Program
• Community Action Agencies
• Weatherization Assistance
• Manufactured Homes
• Energy Conservation Grant
• Ethanol Benefits
• Ethanol Facts
• Ethanol Production Incentive
• State Energy Program
• ED&F Team
• Advanced Manufacturing
• North Dakota UAS Ecosystem
• Northern Plains UAS Test Site
• Technology Parks and Incubators
• UAS Business Opportunities
• UAS Research and Education Centers
• UAS Uses and Benefits
• Angel Match Program (AMP)
• Automate ND Grant Program
• Child Care Loan Program
• Fertilizer Loan Fund
• Corvent Medical
• Regional Rural Development Revolving Loan Fund
• Wonder Fund North Dakota
• EmPower North Dakota
• Renewable Energy in North Dakota
• Innovate ND
• Legacy Investment for Technology Loan Fund
• Tax Incentives
• Quick Facts
• Value-Added Agriculture
• Market/Country Selection
• Opportunity
• Services Offered
• Tourism & Marketing Team
• North Dakota AgriTourism
• Tourism Development
• 2023 Motion Picture Production and Recruitment Grant
• Research and Reports
• Governor's Travel and Tourism Award Winners
• Travel Industry Conference Speakers
• Travel Industry Conference Sponsors
• Find the Good Life
• Workforce Team
• Job Search/Resume Resources
• Community Support Resources
• Legal Services Resources
• Recruitment and Staffing Agencies
• Personalized Relocation Assistance
• Apprenticeship
• Employer Information for Military Service
• Operation Intern
• Recruiter Network
• Regional Workforce Impact Program
• Technical Skills Training Grant
• Tribal Colleges Grants
• Occupational Licensing Reform
• WDC Committees and Minutes
• Workforce Development Council Toolkit
• Youth & Careers
• Services & Assistance
• Grant Programs

Destination Development Grant

The application window for this grant closed on August 31st, and projects were awarded on November 6th, 2023.

Click here for the press release

Click here to see the complete list of applicants

Governor Doug Burgum, recognizing the importance of tourism development, recommended an appropriation for the Destination Development Grant Program. The 68th Legislative Assembly approved this program, which will now be administered through the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The Department of Commerce will provide funding for the Tourism Destination Development Initiative Program in the form of program grants or grants for interest rate buydowns but may not award more than $5,000,000 for a project under this program for the 2023-2025 biennium.

Tourism board recommends $5 million Brevard grant to help fund Brightline station in Cocoa

B revard County's tourism board unanimously recommended a $5 million grant to help design and build the planned Brightline train station in north Cocoa ― a project that could cost $75 million. The grant proposal will go to the Brevard County Commission as early as May 7 for approval.

Funding for the proposed county grant would come from revenue generated by the county's 5% tourist development tax on hotel and motel rooms, vacation rentals and other short-term rentals.

The advisory Brevard County Tourist Development Council on Wednesday supported the grant, in an 8-0 vote, after hearing a presentation from Cocoa city officials about the project.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

So far, the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization 's Governing Board has set aside a total of $15.5 million in federal grant money it is targeted to receive in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 budget years to help cover design and construction work for the proposed station.

In addition, the Cocoa City Council at a workshop in March unanimously voted to commit $5 million in city money for a Brightline station project in Cocoa, which helped trigger Brightline's commitment to have the train stop there.

Support for Cocoa station: Brightline gives green light to Cocoa stop for its Orlando-to-Miami passenger rail service

Cocoa City Manager Stockton Whitten said Brightline and Cocoa plan to leverage the $5 million commitment from Cocoa and the proposed $5 million commitment from Brevard County as matching funds, as they plan to apply next month for a federal grant of up to $50 million.

Whitten said, if the funding is lined up, construction could begin as early as the end of this year, and could take two years to complete.

The Cocoa station would be 7,500 to 9,000 square feet, and would be built on a part of a 90-acre-plus site, some of which is owned by Brightline and some of which is owned by Cocoa.

Brevard County Commission Chair Jason Steele ― who also chairs the Tourist Development Council ― told other TDC members that it is important to support the $5 million grant for the project.

"Brightline doesn't offer a station to everybody," Steele said, adding that "you're going to be kicking yourself right down the road" if Brightline's commitment to have a stop in Cocoa falls through because funding wasn't secured for the station, and a community in another county made a better financial offer.

Concerns from advisory board member

But TDC Vice Chair Tom Hermansen, a hotel owner, expressed qualms about being asked to support the $5 million allocation within minutes of getting Cocoa's presentation about the project. He also noted that the request came ahead of the typical annual cycle for seeking tourism capital grants. Hermansen also contended that Brightline has made no direct commitment to help pay for the station's construction.

Steele said the short notice was necessitated by the tight deadline to apply for the federal grant and the need to get County Commission approval before the application is submitted.

Cocoa officials said Brightline previously has invested more than $12 million for land within Cocoa, including in an area near the so-called "Cocoa curve" where the station is proposed.

The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization previously identified that location near Clearlake Road/U.S. 1 and State Road 528 as the best site for a Brightline station. The site makes sense for Brightline. In addition to owning the land, the area is where Brightline trains must slow down, as they switch from a west-to-east configuration to a north-to-south configuration.

In the end, Hermansen joined the seven other TDC members in voting to support the grant, saying that having a Brightline stop in Cocoa would provide "a meaningful and tremendous economic impact, not just on Cocoa, but on Brevard County as a whole, over the long term."

Brightline currently operates 32 trains a day — 16 in each direction — from early morning to late evening on the roughly 3½-hour route between Orlando International Airport and Miami. But it has no stop in Brevard County.

Samantha Senger, Cocoa's director of communication and economic development, said the Cocoa station would have at least 20 full-time employees. She said having a Brightline stop in Cocoa would generate anywhere from 78,000 to 160,000 nights of accommodations rentals a year at local hotels or vacation rentals.

Assuming an average room rate of $200 a night, that would create $15.6 million to $32 million a year in revenue for the hotels and vacation rentals, plus $780,000 to $1.6 million a year in tourist tax revenue for the county.

Senger said it would be "a transformative project for the Space Coast."

Two options to get county grant

There are two ways for the $5 million Brevard tourism allocation for the Brightline station to be approved.

One would be as a capital facilities grant, which would require a "supermajority vote" of at least four of the five county commissioners.

The other would be by moving money from the Space Coast Office of Tourism capital facilities budget to the office's marketing budget, then approving the $5 million allocation as a tourism-marketing-related project. That approach would require support of a simple majority of three county commissioners.

Steele said he hoped to get unanimous support from the other county commissioners. But he recognized there may be obstacles to get the grant approved by what he described as "a very, very conservative County Commission."

Brightline's current operations

Brightline currently has stops at Orlando International Airport, and in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami. Brightline carried 1.62 million passengers in 2023, and its goal is to have 4 million passengers in 2024.

Brightline announced in March that it also will have a stop in downtown Stuart, after selecting a proposal for a $60 million rail station project there. The station could open as soon as late-2026.

Brightline has plans to extend its route west from Orlando to Tampa in the future, and also could extend service north from Cocoa to Jacksonville.

Earlier this week, the affiliated entity Brightline West broke ground on the nation's first true high-speed rail system, which will connect Las Vegas to Southern California.

Dave Berman is business editor at  FLORIDA TODAY.  Contact Berman at  [email protected] , on X at  @bydaveberman  and on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Tourism board recommends $5 million Brevard grant to help fund Brightline station in Cocoa

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Ban on public nudity among proposed Brevard tourism cultural grant modifications

Brevard County Commission Chair Jason Steele is recommending that a new restriction be put in place on county tourism grants to arts and cultural organizations ― no nudity at public events, or else you'll be disqualified from getting a grant.

Steele put forth his proposal at a recent meeting of the Brevard County Tourist Development Council , the tourism advisory board that Steele also chairs. Steele wants the proposal incorporated into the county guidelines for cultural grants — guidelines that must go to the County Commission for final approval.

"I'm only concerned about nudity and partial nudity and things of that nature that might be offensive to children and their families," Steele said.

During the TDC discussion of the issue, Steele didn't define "partial nudity" or cite any specific examples of this happening at events that received county cultural grants.

In a subsequent interview, Steele said he is not aware of any particular past instances, and is not targeting any specific events or organizations. But he wants to make sure that grant recipients abide by state and local laws, and wants to avoid situations "that potentially could harm children."

Cultural grants and other tourism grants are funded by Brevard County's 5% tourist development tax on hotel and motel rooms, vacation rentals and other short-term rentals.

Tourism cultural grants have been awarded by the county for years, but became controversial since August, when Florida Rep. Randy Fine, who represents South Brevard County, raised questions about a proposed $15,000 grant to the LGBTQ+ organization Space Coast Pride for its 2024 Pridefest event in downtown Melbourne.

Part of Fine's concerns stemmed from the Drag Queen Story Time that was a part of some previous Pridefest events. Drag Queen Story Time was not included in the 2023 Pridefest, held in Sept. 23.

Space Coast Pride eventually received approval for its grant for its Sept. 28, 2024, event. But not before the County Commission briefly withdrew funding for cultural grants altogether, affecting 25 arts and cultural organizations and events, as money was shifted to paying for ocean lifeguards and marketing expenses for the lifeguard program.

"There was a big issue before," Steele said, referring to the cultural grant program, while adding: "I'm not pointing my finger at anybody."

Steele said his proposed restriction is limited to events that are held in a public venue that can be viewed by passersby. He said it's not intended to censor performances by local theater groups or other entities that may qualify for grants ― events in which patrons purchase a ticket for the event, and parents can decide on their own whether to bring their children to the performance.

The Brevard County attorney's office has been working to come up with specific language for the County Commission to consider, reflecting Steele's wishes.

Space Coast Office of Tourism Executive Director Peter Cranis said the language in the grant guidelines "can't be too subjective."

The discussion of Steele's proposal came as the Tourist Development Council made a series of recommendation for the cultural grant program — as well as for two other grant programs funded by the tourist development tax ― for the 2024-25 budget year that begins Oct. 1.

Cultural funding reversal: 25 cultural entitles again in line for Brevard grants, reigniting Pridefest controversy

Cultural and sports grants

The TDC recommended that $605,000 be allocated for cultural grants, and that the grants be tied to the number of out-of-town visitors the events are expected to attract.

It also recommended $240,000 in grants for sporting events, with amounts tied to the number of hotel room-nights each events generates.

Cranis, however, pointed out that cultural grant funding would be contingent on what the County Commission decides to do related to funding of beach lifeguards. Money for the county's lifeguard program potentially could be shifted from the pool of tourist tax money designated for cultural programs.

"There may not be any money for cultural grants, period," Steele said.

Nevertheless, TDC member Julie Braga, a hotel general manager, maintained that the TDC needs to send the message to the County Commission that cultural grants are important, and that arts and cultural events help bring tourists to the Space Coast, thus generating tourist tax revenue.

Tourism + Lagoon Grant Programs

The TDC recommended that Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program — which is designed for tourism-related projects that benefit the Indian River Lagoon — be given $500,000 for grants in 2024-25.

The program previously was funded for up to $1 million for several years. This grant program was suspended for the 2023-24 budget year, as a result of the expenditure of all tourist-tax-generated beach funds in order to repair the South Beaches because of damages from several storms in late 2022.

Under the TDC's proposal for the 2024-25 budget year, grants in this program could be for up to $50,000 apiece.

The Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program guidelines will come before the County Commission for final approval on Tuesday. The cultural and sports programs guidelines will be on a future County Commission agenda, potentially in July.

Dave Berman is business editor at  FLORIDA TODAY.  Contact Berman at  [email protected] , on X at  @bydaveberman  and on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Commission chair: Ban nudity that gets Brevard tourism cultural grant

Recommended Stories

Despite concern about older adults living alone, these seniors prefer the solo life: 'i love not having to answer to anyone else'.

Data shows that 27% of U.S. adults 60 and older live alone. Some of them wouldn't have it any other way.

What's the fuss over Froot Loops and red dye 40? Here's what you need to know about the possible ban.

A California bill seeks to ban foods with red dye 40, along with 5 other dyes, from schools. Here's what you need to know.

Firefly CEO sees 'enough demand' for fully commercial lunar missions independent of NASA

Firefly CEO Bill Weber thinks the private space company will soon be able to conduct round-trip commercial moon missions without funding from NASA.

2024 Toyota GR Supra Review: Please get the manual

This year, the Toyota Supra celebrates its 45th anniversary with a special edition, but otherwise remains a solid sports car with great looks and handling.

Investors confused about the Fed's rate path look to Jay Powell for answers

Investors are hoping Fed Chair Jerome Powell will provide some answers this week about everything from the unpredictable path of inflation to whether 2024 rate cuts are still a possibility.

A Fed meeting, jobs report, and more Big Tech earnings: What to know this week

After a bounceback week for stocks, a Fed meeting, jobs report, and a busy week of corporate earnings are set to greet investors.

Okla. counties in state of emergency after deadly tornadoes; severe thunderstorms head to Texas

Severe thunderstorms are expected in parts of southeastern Texas and the Mississippi Valley.

Thunder's Mark Daigneault wins NBA Coach of the Year award

Daigneault was also voted Coach of the Year by his NBA head coaching peers.

Colorado's Deion Sanders: 'I do not plan on following my kids to the NFL'

The Buffaloes went 4-8 in Sanders' first season as head coach.

2024 NFL Draft grades: Atlanta Falcons' shocking Penix pick overshadows everything else

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Falcons' 2024 draft.

Could Jerome Powell be fired? It's an open legal question Trump could test.

The president of the United States would probably have a hard time firing a Federal Reserve chair over interest rates. But nobody is totally sure what would happen if he tried.

FTC's noncompete ban could reshape the US workplace

The FTC’s decision to outlaw nearly all noncompete agreements could restructure the balance of power between businesses and workers — if it survives legal challenges.

2024 NFL Draft grades: New York Giants make improvements at wide receiver, tight end and safety — but no QB

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Giants' 2024 draft.

2024 NFL Draft grades: New England Patriots grab QB of future in Drake Maye to headline great haul

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Patriots' 2024 draft.

2024 NFL Draft grades: Jacksonville Jaguars didn't land much impact beyond potential WR1

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Jaguars' 2024 draft.

Get your cracked heels sandal-ready with these bestselling moisturizing socks, on sale for $7 a pair

They'll soothe rough skin, no pricey pedicure required, fans rave: 'Didn’t think I would be so blown away by the results.'

London's first defense tech hackathon brings Ukraine war closer to the city's startups

Last week, the U.K. announced its largest ever military support package for Ukraine. In fact, the London Defense Tech Hackathon was the first-ever event to bring together some of the U.K.'s brightest minds in technology, venture capital, and national security in a military setting. The idea was to hack together ideas to both assist Ukraine and create a far more porous layer between the worlds of fast-paced civilian tech and the very different world of the military.

Will the Supreme Court help Trump avoid his election trial by siding with him on presidential immunity?

This week, the Supreme Court held a nearly three-hour hearing on whether Trump can be held criminally liable for trying to undo his 2020 election loss — or for anything else he did during his presidency.

NFL Draft: Alabama safety Jaylen Key is 'Mr. Irrelevant' as Jets take him with final pick

Alabama safety Jaylen Key was selected with the 257th and final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft: Undrafted free agent signings include Frank Gore Jr. to Bills, Sam Hartman to Commanders

The NFL Draft is over, but there's still news breaking. Stay updated with Yahoo Sports.

Brevard Commission backs funding derelict vessel removal, rejects tourism/lagoon grants

The Brevard County Commission rejected an advisory board's recommendation to reinstate a grant program for projects that would benefit both the Indian River Lagoon and tourism.

Instead, county commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday in favor of a proposal from Commissioner John Tobia to designate up to $150,000 from tourist development tax revenue for the removal of so-called derelict vessels from local waterways. The county will save the rest of the money for future beach renourishment projects.

The advisory Brevard County Tourist Development Council last month unanimously recommended that the county fund the Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program in the amount of $500,000 for the 2024-25 budget year that begins Oct. 1, with a maximum individual grant of up to $50,000. Under the proposal, the money would come from the Space Coast Office of Tourism's beach fund, generated by revenue from the county's 5% tourist development tax on hotel and motel rooms, vacation rentals and other short-term rentals.

County commissioners, however, overrode that recommendation.

Previously approved grants: Brevard commissioners approve 10 grants for projects to help restore Indian River Lagoon

Tobia contended that most projects that would have applied for the Tourism + Lagoon grants instead could try to tap into county money through the much-larger Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program for projects designed to improve the condition of the lagoon. That program was created with a special half-cent sales tax that Brevard County residents voted to impose on themselves in 2016 for the following 10 years, with 62.4% support from voters. The lagoon tax has generated more than $378 million so far.

Tobia said the county's derelict vessel program would not qualify for Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program grants. So he wanted to push for this county allocation to help continue efforts to remove unsightly abandoned boats from local waterways.

He said tourist development tax grants have been a regular funding source of derelict vessel removal by the county's Natural Resources Management Department . During the previous three budget years, a total of 133 vessels were removed, with the help of $283,750 from the tourist tax.

In the last 16 years, a total of 310 vessels have been removed from local waterways at a cost of more than $1.4 million. They had a total of 930 tons of materials; 450 gallons of fuel and oil; and 42 marine batteries.

Among other funding sources for the county's boat removal program have been the Florida Inland Navigation District , the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , and the Brevard Boating Improvement Funds, derived from the county's portion of vessel registration fees.

The Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program previously was funded for up to $1 million for several years. This grant program was suspended for the 2023-24 budget year, as a result of the expenditure of all tourist-tax-generated beach funds in order to repair the South Beaches because of damages from several storms in late-2022.

In the 2022-23 budget year, 10 projects received a total of $939,343 through the Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program. Among them were ones designed to help seagrass restoration, shoreline stabilization. oyster and clam restoration, and mangrove restoration.

Tobia pushed his proposal to help have enough money in reserves in the Office of Tourism beach fund to pay for beach renourishment, including if future hurricanes or other storms wash away sand from local beaches.

Tobia said the $8 million now in beach fund reserves may sound like a lot, but could be depleted by a single storm.

He noted that researchers at Colorado State University earlier this month published a forecast predicting an “extremely active” 2024 hurricane season, with 23 named storms, including 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

For every dollar in tourist tax money that goes toward beach renourishment, the county typically gets $8 to $9 from federal and state funding sources. But there usually is a long wait before the county receives these reimbursements.

Dave Berman is business editor at  FLORIDA TODAY.  Contact Berman at  [email protected] , on X at  @bydaveberman  and on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54