Downtown Events Grant Program

The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA), a Department of the City of Gainesville, is offering this “Downtown Event Program” to assist organizations and businesses with up to $5,000 of grant funds to enable event programming within Downtown Gainesville. Donor Name: Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: All Time Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: This Program can also work in concert with the City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Special Event Additional Support (SEAS) grant program to assist with renting space at PRCA locations throughout Downtown Gainesville, such as Bo Diddley Plaza, Sweetwater Park and Depot Park. This Program will be implemented on a limited basis until such time that the City creates a permanent replacement program that has been reviewed by the Downtown Advisory Board and approved by the City Commission. The maximum allocation from GCRA’s Downtown Strategic Plan budget to this temporary program is $50,000 without further City Manager approval of increased funds. Grant Period The Program will only fund events that take place between June 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, unless otherwise extended by the City Manager and subject to the availability of funds. Eligibility Requirements  To be eligible, the event must be within Downtown Gainesville. Event must take place on publicly owned spaces (ex: parks, roads, etc.). Funding is available to both not-for-profit organizations as well as businesses and other entities putting on an event within Downtown Gainesville. Government entities are not eligible for this Program. Funding is limited to events that do not already receive financial funding from the City. The City supplying in-kind services or waived fees does not count as financial funding in this context. The proposed event must not conflict with the City’s goals, core programs, and services. Program funding may be used for event-related expenses such as advertising, entertainment, equipment rental, rental of facilities, and/or security. Other funding uses may be granted if deemed during the application review and approval process to be in the Program’s spirit. The Applicant is required to provide general liability insurance documentation as part of the Application and must include it post-event when submitting for the grant reimbursement. The event shall not have a predominantly religious or political purpose. The event shall not involve or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The event shall not promote the use of tobacco products, illegal drugs or activities, gambling, or a sexually oriented business; or involve obscene or sexually explicit materials or content. For more information, visit Gainesville CRA.