This Notice of Funding Opportunity funds projects aimed at revitalizing the hard-hit tourism industry by bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to state.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/23/2022
Size of the Grant: $15,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program is made possible with support of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), is part of a broader effort underway to help reinvigorate tourism in Illinois, and is putting businesses in this industry and beyond on a path to economic recovery from COVID-19. Grants up to $500,000 will be awarded to establish and enhance tourism attractions or festivals.
Tourism Attractions are defined as fishing and hunting areas, State parks, historical/cultural sites, areas of historic or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas, botanical gardens, theme/amusement parks, interpretive programs and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors that are open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year and are marketed and promoted to visitors from more than 50 miles away.
Tourism Events are defined as an event, such as a major convention, trade show, sporting activity or festival, with potential to attract visitors from outside a 50-mile radius and to produce significantly increased economic impact for the State of Illinois through overnight stays.
Tourism Festivals are defined as an organized series of public activities for a specific duration which may include, but is not limited to the following activities: fairs, carnivals, exhibitions, musical and cultural performances with potential to increase economic activity within the tourism, travel and hospitality industries while generating foot traffic in neighborhoods and business corridors which have experienced a decline in economic activity due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Applicants can apply in one of two categories:
- Tourism Attractions
- Tourism Festivals and Events.
Funding Information
- This grant program is utilizing federal pass-through funds appropriated by the State CURE fund and be in accordance with the permitted purposes under Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
- Total amount of funding expected to be award through this NOFO is $15,000,000. Awards will range from $15,000 to $500,000.
- Anticipated start date for awards is October 2022. The period of performance is expected to be July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
- Units of local government;
- Counties;
- Municipalities;
- Not-for-profit organizations;
- Local promotion groups; and
- For-profit businesses.
For more information, visit IDCEO.
