Grants

The Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau is committed to supporting quality of place and community enhancements as it relates to tourism economic development.

After a two-year hiatus, the HCCVB is pleased to offer project support to local organizations that promote tourism and economic development to Hamilton County. While we appreciate the critical work of our diverse community partners and non-profit organizations, our grant making is limited to initiatives that promote meaningful out of market visitation to Hamilton County and attract overnight lodging.

An on-line application for grants will be available in April. Meanwhile, in preparation, organizations may review the following information regarding the 2012 grant program:

1. Major grant awards of up to $15,000 (requires a letter of intent before a full application can be submitted)

2. Event and festival awards of up to $2,000, based on estimated attendees for proposted activity.

3. Marketing and promotional awards of up to $2,500, based on promotional activity focused on market outside of Hamilton County.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants include any Hamilton County based non-profit organizations including municipalities, parks departments, chambers of commerce, attractions, schools, sports organizations and other organizations. The organization must operate and serve in Hamilton County and be a partner of the Hamilton County CVB.

Major Grants (up to $15,000) -- $40,000 available in 2012

The HCCVB is pleased to offer major grant support of up to $15,000 to select projects based on the following criteria:

• Must be a project for which 15% of the market could potentially be tourists and with proof of (via existing research/market analysis information, currently marketing out of area, etc.); must be a project that already has a group/board/team/organization supporting it and has same initial structure or plan and must be a non-profit and be able to prove non-profit status; can be an existing project that needs support or enhancements.
• Technical assistance for major projects (product planning, architectural or design work, feasibility studies, market research, new web sites, but NOT board development, strategic planning)
• Bricks and mortar (but must be able to prove a plan that shows the project will be completed - money will not be awarded on speculation); can include ball park enhancements (e.g. sign board) but the organization must host at tournaments that attract at least 100 lodging room nights annually through tournament play)
• Operations, so long as the organization can solidly prove its strength in being a major regional tourism destination (e.g. more than 10% of the market as tourists beyond 50 miles or more than 10,000 tourist visitors annually)

Organizations who wish to pursue major grant support are asked to submit a 1-2 page letter of intent. Organizations will be notified if selected to prepare a full proposal. In this letter of intent, briefly outline the scope of the proposed project in two-three paragraphs, and include in this information:

• Overall cost of the project (including requested grant funds)
• How the money will be used (e.g. it will be used to re-grant, or it will be used to do the following three things and then list them)
• Include all the partners who will be involved in the project
• Briefly state the economic and intrinsic impact you think this project will have on Hamilton County tourism - in brief, how will it attract out-of-area visitors?
• Describe any in-kind or cash match support committed to date for this project

Finish your letter of Intent by re-iterating thisproject's demonstrated ability to increase the number of out-of-area visitorsto Hamilton County in one-two paragraphs. Include how it might:

• Complement an existing tourism related product            
• Improve the look and feel of a community in a significant way so as to make it more attractive to visitors
• Tie in with other tourism initiatives in the county, region, or state to improve existing products
• Provide economic development incentives, such as business or event attraction, to increase tourism in the area

Letters should be addressed to:

Brenda Myers, Executive Director
Hamilton County CVB
37 E. Main Street
Carmel, IN 46032

AND emailed to her as anattachment.

Deadline for letters of intent is May 15, 2012, with awards made by the end of May.

Festival/Event Grants (up to $2,000) --$10,000 available in 2012

Organizations seeking the Festival/Event grants can apply via the online application system.

• Criteria - Festival grants are based on attendance ($250 grants for festivals that attract fewer than 5000 people; $500-$1,000 grants for festivals that attract 5000-10,000; and $1000-$2,000 for events that attract over 10,000)
• Start-up events, or those that cannot document attendance and origin of visitors can only obtain $500
• Money can be used for anything related to the festival or event
• Event or festival must have a regional appeal and that must be reflected on the grant application through past attendance records, zip code analysis, media listing or coverage in a regional or national magazine that substantiates the claim, or other proof relative to the type of event.
• Non-profits, cities and towns, collaborative groups, etc. as long as they are a non-profit
• Awards of this grant does not preclude other grants being given (e.g. marketing or major grants)
• Summer concert series not eligible (although they can apply for marketing funds)
• Must prove that an effort is made, however, to market out of area (local media does not qualify); this can include cooperatively buying an ad in the Indiana Festival Guide with the HCCVB
• All materials must include the HCCVB's logo and URL as a supporting organization - Request now!

Marketing & Promotions Grants (up to $2,500) -- $20,000 available in 2012

Organizations seeking the Marketing & Promotions grants can apply via the online application system.

• Criteria - Marketing and promotions grants can be for downtown economic development (events, promotions, retail and hospitality business attractors), festivals as long as at least 15% of their market is proven to be out of area (more than 50 miles), non-profit organizations so long as at least 50% of the money is spent out of area (local media does not qualify)
• The more collaborative and expansive your organization and group, the more likely you are to receive funds
• Theaters, performances, etc. may apply but it has to be for an entire season, and at least 10% of their mailing list, marketing, radio time, etc. must be out of area (50 miles plus)
• All materials must include the HCCVB's logo and URL as a supporter - Request now!