News Release
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Glenn Nealis – Director of Economic Development
(607) 832-5123
DATE: January 11, 2023
2023 LOCAL COMMUNITY TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM
DELHI, NEW YORK – The Delaware County Tourism Advisory Board is now accepting applications for funding under the 2023 Local Community Tourism Grant program. This program will provide funding assistance to eligible applicants for projects that seek to attract visitors to Delaware County and enhance the overall tourism industry. Applications for grant assistance under this program must be hand-delivered to the Delaware County Department of Economic Development or postmarked by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 (Emails will not be accepted).
The 2023 Local Community Tourism Grant program is funded through revenues raised through the Delaware County Hotel Occupancy Tax. The Occupancy Tax was enacted for the purposes of creating a dedicated funding stream to promote and develop the tourism industry within Delaware County and stimulating economic growth. For details go to https://dcecodev.com/tourism-promotion-and-development-grant-program/
Projects that have received support through this initiate include: improving signage for hiking trails, renovations to historic properties, local and regional marketing activities, the development of promotional materials and support for artistic, cultural and community events that seek to attract visitors to Delaware County, and other projects seeking to grow the tourism industry.
In 2023, the Local Community Tourism Grant Program will again focus on five categories of awards: Promotion/Marketing, Community Celebrations, Capital Improvements, Arts & Culture and Major Capital Improvements.
Promotion/Marketing: Projects should be designed to promote specific locales, activities, groups of businesses or tourism segments in Delaware County and target a defined market of non-county visitors. In general, funds requested under this category should be used to cover costs related to printed materials, web site and social media marketing, and other promotional or marketing initiatives. The maximum amount of funding available under this category is $5,000.
Community Celebrations: Projects that support events, programs, or a series of events that seek to build upon historical, musical, culinary, agricultural, recreational and/or cultural traditions of the area and hold the reasonable potential to attract non-county visitors. Events must be open to the general public. Community Celebrations limited to serving the local community without a strategy for growth or not seeking to attract non-county visitors will not be funded. The maximum amount of funding available under this category is $1,200.
Capital Improvements: Projects eligible for funding under this category include; the renovation/construction of tourism properties owned by a municipality or non-profit, infrastructure improvements with a direct relationship to tourism, and other physical/structural items with a greater than 5-year lifespan. The maximum amount of funding available under this category is $5,000.
Arts & Culture: Projects that support artistic events, programs, or a series of events that seek to promote public engagement and access to the arts and hold the reasonable potential to attract non-county visitors. Events must be open to the general public. Artistic events/programs limited to serving the local community without a strategy for growth, or not seeking to attract non-county visitors will not be funded. The maximum amount of funding available under this category is $1,200.
Major Capital Improvements: For the second straight year, the Tourism Promotion & Development Grant Program will also include a, fifth category of award for Major Capital Improvement projects, providing for grants of up to $25,000. While the criteria will be similar to that for capital projects, this category is reserved for one or two large scale capital improvement projects designed to have a significant impact on the tourism industry in Delaware County.
Municipalities, nonprofit corporations and certain not-for-profit entities are eligible for funding. For-profit businesses may apply under a separate but related 2023 Tourism Business Support Grant Application. All grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and will require a minimum 1:1 cash match.
For a copy of the program guidelines and application, please contact the Delaware County Department of Economic Development at 607-832-5123, email at ecd@co.delaware.ny.us or stop by the office located at One Courthouse Square in the Village of Delhi. The program guidelines and application are also available at on the Department website at https://dcecodev.com/tourism-promotion-and-development-grant-program/.
For questions relating to this funding opportunity, or for assistance in completing the application, please contact Kelly Mariotti at the Delaware County Department of Economic Development at 607-832-5123.
