Tourism Promotion Grant

Indiana Dunes Tourism

Agency: Foundation

GrantWatch ID #161650

Grant Description

Grants of up to $5,000 to Indiana organizations, cities, towns, and businesses in eligible areas for events and projects that promote the development and growth of local tourism. Funding is intended for marketing and product development, as well as support for business events, festivals, and sporting events to Porter County from outside Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.

There are five (5) grant application categories, which include:

Conventions, meetings, and seminars
Festivals and special events
Marketing
Product development
Sports sponsorships

More about the types of projects can be found at https://www.indianadunes.com/content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Grant-Guidelines-FINAL.pdf#page=1.

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Eligibility:

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Indiana Dunes Tourism intends the grant program to be used by Porter County organizations, cities, and towns, to bring in new business, to develop local events, festivals, and sporting events, and to encourage visitation from outside the county.

Private sector grant applications will be considered if the marketing efforts target visitors from outside Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. An effort to rebrand would not be eligible, however, a billboard would be considered.

Indiana Dunes Tourism does not award grant money for:
- Seasonal or holiday events celebrated by most communities (Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
- One-day athletic events (running races, biking events, etc.) that primarily have a local draw. If it can be demonstrated that a seasonal event has unique characteristics that will attract a sizable number of attendees from outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties, the grant committee and board of directors will review and consider the event for funding.

Indiana Dunes Tourism does not compensate for alcohol; therefore, alcohol expenses are not eligible for reimbursement.

Ineligible use of grant funds can be found at https://www.indianadunes.com/content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Grant-Guidelines-FINAL.pdf#page=5.

Pre-Application Information:

All grant applications are due Friday, January 28, 2022, by 4:00 p.m. Applications WILL NOT be accepted after this deadline. Exceptions are made for brand new events, festivals, sporting events, marketing projects, and product development projects established after the grant deadline. Staff will review each situation on a case-by-case basis.

The Indiana Dunes Tourism Board of Directors will vote on the grant recommendations given by the grant committee on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

This grant program is a 50% matching, reimbursable grant.

Additional Funding Information:

Estimated Size of Grant:

The grant dollar amounts available per category are:

a. Marketing: $2,500 (first year); $1,500 (second year); $1,000 (third year)
b. Festivals and events: $2,500 (first year); $1,500 (second year); $1,000 (third year)
c. Meetings, conventions, and seminars: $2,500 (first year); $1,500 (second year); $1,000 (third year)
d. Sports sponsorship: $3,000 maximum
e. Product development: $5,000 maximum

Term of Contract:

Businesses and organizations can only apply for grant funding for the same festival, event, meeting, seminar, convention, and marketing projects for three years. After the third year, your festival, event or marketing project will no longer be eligible for funding. The purpose of the grant program is to get festivals, events and projects established so they can successfully sustain themselves in the future.