Special Event Grant Program

Applicants are invited to apply for the Visit Tallahassee Special Event Grant Program. Donor Name: Visit Tallahassee State: Florida County: Leon County (FL) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/22/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Leon Country Tourist Development Council (TDC) was created pursuant to the State of Florida Local Option Tourist Development Act and Leon County Ordinance #88-01. The TDC administers funds collected from a local option tourist development tax (TDT) on transient lodging sales. i.e. hotels/motels, and condominiums. The funds are designated to promote Tallahassee/Leon County as a preferred visitor destination for meetings and conventions, group leisure travel, special events, cultural activities and amateurn sporting events A “Special Event” is defined as “a new or existing organized concert, exhibition, festival, fair, conference or celebration which is conducted according to a prearranged schedule and of interest to the general public”. For the purpose of this grant program, the public interest should extend to Tallahassee/Leon County residents and to those living outside Tallahassee/Leon County who would visit the destination and stay overnight to observe or participate. The Leon County Division of Tourism grants programs are funded by the Tourist Development Tax (TDT). Grant programs administered by the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) are also funded by TDT revenue and are designed to support year-round arts and culture programming. Funding Information Room Nights/Recommended Tourism Special Event Funding Levels: Less than 100 Room Nights Funding Level: $0 – $2,999 100 – 199 Room Nights Funding Level: $3,000 – $5,999 200 – 499 Room Nights Funding Level: $6,000 – $10,499 500 – 1,000 Room Nights Funding Level: $10,500 – $17,499 1,001 – 1,499 Room Nights Funding Level: $17,500 – $26,250 Allowable Expenses Allowable expenses include: Promotion, marketing and paid advertising/media buys that reach outside Tallahassee/Leon County with potential to drive overnight visitation. Event production and technical expenses, site fees/costs (contract help, rentals, insurance) rights fees, sanction fees, non-monetary awards and travel expenses including lodging. Eligibility Criteria  The intent of the Special Event Grant Program is to provide funding assistance for events that attract overnight visitors to Tallahassee/Leon County and create business for the commercial lodging industry, (hotels/motels, condominiums, short-term vacation rentals), as well as restaurants, retail establishments and other tourism related business activities. In addition to being compliant with F.S. 125.0104 the following criteria have been established to be considered for funding: Each application must include a signed Certification and Compliance page. Event must take place between October 1 and September 30 of the upcoming fiscal year. The event must have the potential to bring-out-of-town visitors that use commercial lodging establishments in Tallahassee/Leon County. Applicant must provide a marketing/promotional plan that demonstrates out-of market advertising/promotion to reach potential visitors. Applicant must provide a detailed event budget. For more information, visit Visit Tallahassee.