Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce that the 2015-16 VISIT FLORIDA grant application period is now open.  Each year, VISIT FLORIDA administers a total of six grant programs to assist tourism industry businesses with their marketing efforts and in publicizing the tourism advantages of the state to attract in- and out-of-state visitors.  During the 2014-15 fiscal year, VISIT FLORIDA was able to award $550,048 in grants to 128 deserving businesses, an increase of 31 percent and 34 percent respectively over the previous year.

Four of the six VISIT FLORIDA grant program categories have an application period that runs December 17 – February 9, 2015.  Those include the Advertising Matching Grants, Minority Convention Grants, Small Business Grants and Cultural, Heritage, Rural and Nature Tourism Grants.  Two other grants – the Airline Grant Program and the City-Wide Meetings & Conventions Grant Program – accept applications and are awarded all throughout the year.  In addition, VISIT FLORIDA has recently established a Medical Tourism Grant Program.  The application period for that grant closed on December 8.

On December 11, VISIT FLORIDA hosted individual webinars to share information about each grant program, the deadlines, eligibility requirements and application process.  If you are interested in applying for a grant, be sure to watch the video of these webinars (links provided on each grant webpage) prior to completing your application.

Below is additional information on each of the four grant programs for which the selected businesses will be announced in early July 2015:

Advertising Matching Grants Program – Grants program to publicize the tourism advantages of the State of Florida.  Applicants need not be a VISIT FLORIDA partner.  Offered to local governments or non-profit corporations serving local government.

Cultural, Heritage, Rural and Nature Tourism Grant Program – Reimbursement program designed to provide funding for marketing projects for the promotion of Florida’s cultural, heritage, rural, nature tourism products and education efforts.  Applicants must be a VISIT FLORIDA partner.

Minority Convention Grant Program – Offered to local governments and non-profit corporations/organizations to attract new national minority conferences and conventions to Florida.  Applicants need not be a VISIT FLORIDA partner.

Small Business Grant Program – Grant program to assist small businesses (those with an income of less than $1,250,000 gross income per year, or a 501 (c) (3), not-for-profit status) in publicizing their programs and tourism advantages of the State of Florida.  Applicants must be a VISIT FLORIDA partner.

To learn more about the VISIT FLORIDA grant programs and to view the complete list of businesses selected for 2014-15, please click here.  For further details, contact Marguerite Martin, VISIT FLORIDA Grants Coordinator, at 850-205-3843 or grants@VISITFLORIDA.org.