Event Support Grants

Event Support Grants

Funder: Visit Canton (Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau), Canton, OH

Program Overview:
Event support investments aim to increase regional visitation and economic impact through visitor spending by supporting sporting events & tournaments, conferences, professional meetings, expos, and complementary experiences to qualifying events.

Purpose & Goals

Visit Canton Event Support investments must accomplish one or more of the following:
• Attract and/or retain events that generate significant visitor spending in Stark County
• Increase attendance at recurring events that generate significant visitor spending in Stark County
• Maximize visitor spending for an established event by executing additional programs, initiatives, etc.

Award Information

• Maximum Award: Up to $10,000 per event
• Application Process: Competitive application process throughout the calendar year, pending available funds
• Award Timeline: Rolling basis

Eligibility Requirements

• Events must have a minimum commitment of 125 Stark County hotel room nights and/or 400-day visitors from outside of Stark County
• Event Support Grant applications must be submitted at least 90 days before the scheduled event
• Events must be hosted within the 2026 calendar year

Geographic Scope

• Stark County, Ohio and surrounding region

Contact Information

• Contact Person: Zita Blile
• Email: zitab@visitcanton.com
• Address: Visit Canton, 401 Market Ave. N, Canton, OH 44702
• Phone: (330) 454-1439 | (800) 552-6051

Important Notes

• Grant funds are awarded for the year/project indicated in the application and are not intended to be a commitment of support for funding in future years
• All organizations and projects are subject to applicable annual grant application and committee review processes
• Grant eligibility, application, and committee review processes are subject to change
• Grant funds are not eligible to pay for Visit Canton Official Travel Guide advertising or VisitCanton.com sponsored content (though these can count toward matching requirements)