Fayette County Tourism Grant Program

Forty percent of the Fayette County Lodging Tax is appropriated for a grant program specifically established to support the county’s tourism assets.  Awards are granted annually on the basis of merit as determined by the Fayette County Tourism Grant Review Committee and administered by the Fayette County Commissioners and GO Laurel Highlands (GO LH) (Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau). Thus, grant funding must be primarily used for marketing and advertising expenses that target potential visitors who reside outside of the Laurel Highlands counties and whose visit is likely to result in an overnight stay.

Grants

Marketing Grants: Marketing and advertising programs must be targeted to media that primarily reach visitors outside of Fayette County. Cooperative programs, which include tourism partners in the three-county Laurel Highlands region, are eligible. Tourism-related marketing expenses are eligible for funding providing the contractor is with a 3rd party organization and not affiliated with the requesting organization in any way.  Eligible expenses including but not limited to:

• Internet website development or enhancement if contracted with an entity not affiliated with the applicant.
• Creative services (creating photo or film libraries, logo development, new artwork, etc.) if contracted 
• with an entity not affiliated with the applicant.
• Brochure design and printing
• Advertising (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, search engine marketing, digital ad campaigns, etc. – local media may be included if the majority of their audience is out of county.)
• Directional signage.
• Exhibiting fees to participate in industry travel shows/trade shows.
• Trade show displays that include the GO Laurel Highlands logo.

Capital Project Grants: Capital improvements that benefit tourism and augment the visitor’s experience by developing new or enhancing existing Fayette County nonprofit tourist attractions or amenities will be considered. Funds may be used as matching grant funds for implementation of capital improvement projects. 

Operational Expense Grants: Grants for rent, utilities, land phones (not mobile service), office equipment such as desks, chairs, computers, software, copy machines, etc., consumable supplies such as stationery, paper, postage, etc. will be considered.  

Visitor Center Grants:

• These grants are available for operation of a visitor center in a Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy recognized “Great Allegheny Passage Trail Town” in Fayette County.
• Grants may be used for expenses related to staffing the center such as: payroll, payroll taxes, and payroll fees and standard operational expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, postage, etc., as directly related to the operation of a seasonal visitor center.