The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA) is seeking applications for the Destination Marketing Grant program to support Henderson County tourism partners with their marketing needs to promote visitation to the county.
Donor Name: Henderson County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA)
State: North Carolina
County: Henderson County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/05/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Funding Information
The amount requested in the application must be for a minimum of $500 and no more than $20,000.
Grant Period
Funding granted through this program must be utilized within twelve (12) months of the approval of the HCTDA board.
Permitted Uses
Examples of permitted uses of out-of-market Destination Marketing Grant funding include but are not limited to:
- Production of brochures and other print collateral
- Out-of-market print, television, and radio advertising
- Billboards and other out-of-market media
- Out-of-market trade and consumer show registration fees
- Targeted digital media, including search engine marketing targeting potential visitors to Henderson County, promoted posts on social media, and banner ads and similar types of pay-per-click advertising
- Out-of-market mobile marketing
- Expenses associated with out-of-market public relations efforts
- Design costs.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a HCTDA Destination Marketing Grant, the applicant must:
- Be a tourism-related business or other organization located in Henderson County that attracts visitors from outside the county
- Be organized under the laws of North Carolina or, if organized under the laws of another state, registered to do business in North Carolina
- Be registered as a federally-recognized non-profit, if applicable
- Have been in operation in Henderson County for at least one (1) year prior to the deadline for application submission
- Not be a property primarily used for lodging
- Demonstrate its intent to attract visitors to Henderson County
- Have a specific plan for how the requested funding will be invested to reach visitors or audiences outside of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson DMA.
Limitations
Limitations imposed by HCTDA upon the Destination Marketing Grant program include but are not limited to the following:
- Organizations may apply for funding for multiple marketing projects/events held during a single twelve-month period but cannot apply for multiple years of funding. Applicants must complete a separate application for each event for which they are seeking funding.
- HCTDA reserves the right to cancel the Destination Marketing Grant program at any time and for any reason. HCTDA is not obligated to fund any request, nor is it obligated to expend the entire amount budgeted for the Destination Marketing Grant program in a given fiscal year. Recognizing that its resources are limited, HCTDA may, in its sole discretion, grant funding that is less than that requested by the applicant.
- HCTDA will not make payment directly to any vendor or individual. Payment will only be made to the applicant organization.
- Applicants that are approved for funding will receive funds for expenses based upon the terms set forth in the funding agreement. Expenses incurred prior to the funding agreement will not be covered.
- The grantee may be forced to return some or all funding plus interest if the grantee is found to have used the funding inappropriately or otherwise violated the funding agreement.
- Applications received after the published deadline will not be considered.
- The applicant assumes the burden of all expenses associated with this application.
Ineligible Uses
Examples of ineligible uses of Destination Marketing Grant funding include but are not limited to:
- Marketing, advertising, or other expenses that is not intended to attract tourists or other business travelers to Henderson County b. Local print, television, radio, and advertising that is limited to Greenville-Spartanburg Asheville-Anderson DMA
- Website design and hosting
- Operational expenses
- Capital expenditures
- Debt reduction
- Signage at a place of business
- Wayfinding signage
- Travel expenses
- Photography and videography services (funding available through the HCTDA Photography and Videography program
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Fundraising expenses
- Event expenses (unless for marketing of an event)
- Influencer marketing
- Sweepstakes awards or similar kinds of prizes
- Expenses incurred prior to the project funding agreement.
For more information, visit HCTDA.
