Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce that the 2014-15 VISIT FLORIDA grant application period is now open.  Each year, VISIT FLORIDA administers six grant programs to assist Partners with marketing their businesses and publicizing the tourism advantages to the State of Florida.  Last year, VISIT FLORIDA was able to award $378,353 in grants to 85 deserving businesses.

Four of the six VISIT FLORIDA grant program categories have an application period that runs January 8 – February 18, 2014.  Those include the Advertising Matching Grants, Cultural, Heritage, Rural and Nature Tourism Grants, Minority Convention Grants, and Small Business Grants.  Two other grants – the Airline Grant Program and the City-Wide Meetings & Conventions Grant Progam – accept applications and are awarded all throughout the year.

VISIT FLORIDA recently hosted a webinar for Partners to learn more about each grant program, the deadlines, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.  If you are interested in applying for a grant, be sure to watch the video of this webinar for tips on completing your application.

Below is additional information on each of the four grant programs that will be announced July 8, 2014:

Advertising Matching Grants Program – Grants program to publicize the tourism advantages of the State of Florida. Applicants need not be VISIT FLORIDA partners. 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 multi-county and multi-Partner marketing projects for the promotion of Florida’s cultural, heritage, rural, nature and education efforts.

Minority Convention Grant Program – Offered to local governments and non-profit corporations/organizations to attract new national minority conferences and conventions.

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), non-for-profit status) in publicizing their programs and tourism advantages of the State of Florida.

To learn more about the VISIT FLORIDA grant programs and to view the complete list of businesses selected for 2013-14, please click here.  For further details, contact Susan Gale, VISIT FLORIDA Grants Coordinator, at sgale@VISITFLORIDA.org.