The Destination Development Grant Program provides financial support to develop new or expanded tourism experiences and attractions resulting in economic growth and diversification and to increase unique experiences for workforce recruitment and retention and enhance North Dakota residents’ quality of life.
Donor Name: North Dakota Department of Commerce
State: North Dakota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $25,000 and $5,000,000
Details:
This grant is intended to fund the actual building of infrastructure or expansion of an attraction and service that creates anchor tourism attractions that will assist in spurring and supporting secondary attractions within the state.
Funds are intended to move a project toward completion rather than for preliminary planning and development. Types of usage that would be allowed include, but are not limited to, costs associated with the purchase or construction of new and/or existing tourism and recreation attractions, historic sites, and equipment purchased for specific tourism project operations.
To qualify, projects must fall under at least one of the following categories:
- Accommodations – Lodging options that are distinct from traditional hotels/motels or short-term homestays. This can include historic restorations, boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, outdoor (glamping) or cultural-themed lodging, hunting lodges or resorts and other types of accommodations that provide services and amenities and offer a unique and memorable experience for visitors. Unique accommodations that can help to enhance the tourism experience by providing visitors with a more personalized and immersive experience and can also help diversify the range of lodging options available in a destination.
- Rehabilitation of a historic structure unique to the area (ex: downtown boutique hotel).
- Unique offering representative of the area’s offerings and culture (ex: ski lodge, glamping site, hunting/fishing lodge).
- Built with a tourism attraction where the tourism attraction costs more than the lodging facility.
- Construction, restoration, or renovation of a full-service lodging facility that is or will be a part of a major attraction, convention or sports facility offering unique experiences that tie directly to the attraction or venue.
- Culinary experiences – Restaurants, cafes, breweries, and wineries
- Breweries or wineries that offer tours and/or event space
- Themed restaurant destination built in conjunction with a larger tourism project
- Cultural or regional cuisine attractions that highlight that area’s culture (Native American cuisine, Scandinavian, German-Russian heritage, etc.)
- Themed education and entertainment attractions
- Recreation
- Additional recreation experiences
- Value-added equipment rentals
- Guide and outfitter services
- Complete experience packages
- AgriTourism attractions
- Focused niche activities that provide value-added services
- Historical or cultural
- National Park/monument visitors
- Scenic beauty or natural distinctions
- Unique community amenities.
In addition to new projects, existing attractions may qualify for this grant under operational enhancements; however, grant funds cannot supplant an existing budget. These enhancements should extend the length of the visitor season, keep the offering competitive for other offerings in and outside of North Dakota, and/or grow the potential for additional revenue and visitors.
Funding Information
Grant requests should range between $25,000 and $5,000,000, but smaller projects may be considered. Applicants should provide details on how they will invest in the project with cash and in-kind contributions. Match needs to be fully obtained within grant period. Grant funds must be spent by June 30, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
A for-profit or non-profit organization or business involved in tourism. Private and non-profit tourism entities or concessionaires using government buildings or public property are eligible if the grant dollars are used only to improve items belonging to the business or non-profit.
What Makes For a Strong Application?
- Projects that clearly demonstrate how the attraction will motivate a trip to North Dakota.
- Projects that clearly demonstrate their role as a tourism and recreation attraction in their community and region, and the benefits the project will provide through the development of the new visitor attraction.
- The demand for the tourism-related project is clearly demonstrated through research and analysis.
- The project is unique and offers an experience that is relevant to North Dakota’s history, culture, or natural resources.
- Projects that align with gaps identified in tourism development plans, offer unique or in-demand experiences and could attract and retain out-of-state visitors for at least four to six hours or overnight.
- Projects that leverage funding from various public or private sources.
- Projects that demonstrate responsible management of tourism activities and enhance the natural, cultural, or social resources that make a destination attractive to visitors. (Ex: promoting cultural understanding and respect by providing information or training about local culture and customs, supporting local cultural initiatives, supporting the local economy by using local suppliers, preserving environmental impacts through sustainable practices, protecting public safety by conducting activities in a safe and responsible manner.)
- Clear and concise answers. Supporting documents are encouraged and will be reviewed but will not replace required narratives in the grant portal.
For more information, visit NDDC.
