Tourist Development Council Grants Program 2026 (Florida)

The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs is accepting applications for its Tourist Development Council Grants Program.

Donor Name: Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs

State: Florida

County: Miami-Dade County (FL)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 04/06/2026

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned

Details:

The Tourist Development Council (TDC) Grants Program is responsive on a quarterly basis to organizations/events which promote Miami-Dade County’s appeal as a tourist destination by sponsoring tourist-oriented sports events, cultural and special events (visual and performing arts, including theater, concerts, recitals, opera, dance, art exhibitions, and festivals) and television origination projects. The TDC’s objective in funding events is to position Miami-Dade County as a must-experience destination through quality events and projects that attract tourists from outside of Miami-Dade County into the area; have a strong cultural component; encourage overnight stays in Miami-Dade County motels and hotels; and perpetuate an environment for growth in the tourism industry in Miami-Dade County.

Categories

The Tourist Development Council awards grants to not-for-profit organizations, local government and/or municipalities, and for-profit organizations producing tourist-oriented activities in four categories:

Special Events/Promotions – including major festivals, performances, events and programs with significant cultural or entertainment components that attract national and international attention and are promoted and open to the public.
Sporting Events – including professional and amateur level national and international competitions that can provide specific evidence of substantially increasing the economic activity at hotels within Miami-Dade County. Collegiate sporting activities are ineligible, except for major tournaments or events with significant, quantifiable tourism impact for Miami-Dade County, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Television – telecast programs, syndicated productions, and documentaries promoting MiamiDade County. Commercial films/movies are not eligible for funding through the TDC.
Government/Municipalities – producing major festivals, performances, events, and programs with significant cultural or entertainment components that attract national and international attention and are promoted and open to the public.

Funding Information

As outlined in the divisions below, funding request caps for New/First Time and Ongoing projects will be based on the applicant’s total project budget (cash expenses + no more than 25% in-kind):

Division A – Total Project Budget of $50,000 or less may request up to $5,000
Division B – Total Project Budget of $50,001 – $100,000 may request up to $10,000
Division C – Total Project Budget of $100,001 – $250,000 may request up to $25,000
Division D – Total Project Budget of above $250,000 may request up to $35,000.

Eligbility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, an organization must:

Be legally incorporated as a Not-For-Profit corporation, with a designated tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, or a unit of local Government/Municipality, with a designated Federal Employment Identification number. Applications from not-for-profit organizations designated tax-exempt under other subsections of 501(c) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Proof of incorporation (entire document with State stamp) and IRS tax-exempt designation is required at the time of application; or
Be a For-Profit Corporation with a designated Federal Employment Identification
number. Proof of incorporation (entire document with State stamp) and IRS designation is required at the time of application. For-Profit projects must have less than a three-year track record in Miami-Dade County. Funding for For-Profit activities and projects shall be considered only when such funding may be instrumental in attracting large scale annual events to establish Miami-Dade County as their permanent location and/or in providing incentive to encourage For-Profit organizations to choose Miami Dade County as the location for major, one-time tourism-attracting activities or projects;
Be active and in good standing regarding its registration status with the Florida Division of Corporations pursuant to Chapter 617, Florida Statutes; Present the project for which funding is being sought in Miami-Dade County for the benefit of Miami-Dade County tourists and residents;
Ensure that projects are open and accessible to Miami-Dade County tourists and residents
Have both a strong tourism and cultural component;
Utilize hotels located within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County as their “event hotels”
NOT be an educational organization or facility (such as a daycare/preschool or school)
NOT be a higher education institution whose proposed project is:
- For the benefit of degree seeking academic purposes;
- In service of other academic purposes;
- Primarily for the academic community’s benefit.
NOT be a school support organization (such as parent-teacher association, booster club or auxiliary organization);
NOT be a religious organization whose proposed project, in whole or in part, is designed to promote religious or sectarian activities or to encourage the preference of a particular religion; and
Be in full compliance with grant agreement requirements of any previous grants provided through the Tourist Development Council or other Miami-Dade County funding sources, including timely and satisfactory submission of all reports.