The City of Lawrence is seeking applications for its 2024 Transient Guest Tax Grant Program.
Donor Name: City of Lawrence
State: Kansas
City: Lawrence
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/18/2023
Size of the Grant: $150,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Transient Guest Tax Grant Program will provide funding for specific events which meet the following goals:
- demonstrate a measurable economic benefit including enhancing the cultural economy or travel/tourism economy, create additional transient guest tax and sales tax; and
- enhance Lawrence’s unmistakable identity and reputation for tourist activities, demonstrating pull of regional visitors.
Funding Information
As part of the budget cycle, the City Commission approved TGT Grant program funding for $150,000 in 2024 to encourage, promote and strengthen events and programs that benefit the Lawrence community and/or enhance the visitor experience in Lawrence.
Grant Period
The program will have one funding cycle for 2023 (for events occurring Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024).
Guidelines
A scoring matrix based on the goals of this program will be used to evaluate applications. A short video conference presentation (maximum of 3 minutes) by applicants will also be included as part of the evaluation on December 3 (and 4 if necessary). The advisory board may not consider all applications if the event does not meet the goals of the program. The following guidelines will be used to determine eligibility for funding:
- This program is administered through the City Manager’s Office with an Advisory Board that will make recommendations to the City Commission for approval. The City Commission has final approval of any grant funds.
- Grants Organizations can submit funding requests for multiple events held throughout the year as separate grant requests.
- Grants will be limited to $12,000 per event or 10% of the total funding allotment for the year.
- This funding can be used for overall event support; however, marketing and promotional efforts will be looked upon favorably. The following is a list of potential advertising/marketing/promotion tools that could be used for events:
- Advertising: Print, social media, digital (web), radio, television
- Printing: Flyers, posters, billboards, pre-event signage/banners, direct mail (including postage)
- Video: Pre-event publicity video to promote event
- E-mail: E-mail subscription marketing management tools
- Web: Search engine optimization, event/program website design, market research analysis,
- website hosting fees
- Design: Graphic design, copywriting, design and layout services
- Submitting organizations should be a Lawrence-based organization with events and programs held within the Lawrence city limits.
- Organizations that apply for funds should note that the advisory board wishes to see events become self-sustaining. This program is intended to help grow or initially fund events but this does not limit the advisory board from funding any events they determine meet the goals of this program.
- When possible, event organizers should note whether the event is expected to create overnight stays, thus generating Transient Guest Tax. An event producing overnight stays during non-peak times for hotels, including weekdays as well as weekends from December through March are particularly desirable.
- Off-peak scoring will be included as part of the criteria for applicants with flexible event schedules to allow for the possibility of adapting events to off peak time frames.
- The value of services provided by other organizations should be included in the application and noted as in-kind support. If cash or in-kind support has been received for the event, the application must include a letter of commitment as confirmation.
- Any event receiving Transient Guest Tax Grant Program funds will be asked to sign an agreement with the city which will require post-event reporting including a summary of the event, data captured from the event including participant projections and use of city funding in the overall budget. Post-event reporting is due to the City of Lawrence within one month of the event/program. If an event report is not filed, future funding opportunities through this program may not be allowed.
For more information, visit City of Lawrence.
