Room Tax Grant

Room Tax Grant

Funder: Susquehanna County Promotion & Tourism Agency

Overview: The Susquehanna County Promotion & Tourism Agency offers 30% of Susquehanna County's room tax money towards grants to help organizations promote and develop tourism in Susquehanna County.

Geographic Scope

• Location: Susquehanna County, PA
• All projects/events must be located in Susquehanna County

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:
• Be a bona fide, officially recognized not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status, OR a branch of local or county government
• Have at least one year of audited financial reports
• Have a proven positive record of advertising to bring patrons and audience members from outside of the county
• Be open to the public (for event/exhibit/business expansion category)
• Have demonstrated ability to bring tourism to the region

Grant Categories

#### 1. Special Event or Exhibit or Expansion/Improvement of Current Business/Attraction

Must be open to the public

Must be located in Susquehanna County

Must promote tourism in the county

Must be advertised outside of the County

#### 2. Marketing & Promotional Projects

Must directly correlate with increasing tourism within Susquehanna County

Must target promotion outside of the County

#### 3. Historical Preservation Project

Must be used to improve, restore, or preserve existing historical sites/buildings relevant to the area's culture, history, and sense of identity

Must be an existing tourist draw or have the potential to add to tourism attractions within the area

Must NOT be a capital improvement project (e.g., sidewalks, sewers)

Must NOT be a private residence or business

#### 4. Wayfinding Aids

Consideration given to groups proposing to develop maps, signage or other tools to assist visitors and enhance enjoyment of sites

Match Requirement

All grants REQUIRE a 25% cash or in-kind match

What Grants Will NOT Fund

• Sectarian religious expenses
• Food or refreshments
• Travel
• Entertainment
• Operational expenses (payroll, insurance, utilities, etc.)
• Capital improvement projects (for historical preservation category)
• Private residences or businesses (for historical preservation category)

Use of Funds

• Grant funds may be used to match federal and state funds, but are not considered private donations
• Funds can only be used to match grants being used for projects that will directly impact tourism within the region
• Recipients must spend funds/complete projects within one year of fund disbursement

Required Attribution

All publicity and promotional campaigns undertaken with grant funds MUST INCLUDE the statement: "Funded in part by the Susquehanna County Room Tax Fund through the Susquehanna County Promotion and Tourism Agency"

Recipient MUST PROVIDE A DIRECT LINK from its website to www.visitsusqco.com

Accountability/Reporting

Recipients must provide adequate proof that funds were used for intended purpose through:
• Submission of tear sheets
• Media billings or similar documentation
• Properly executed vouchers, invoices, cancelled checks, and/or records detailing nature and propriety of charges
• Receipts

Review Process

1. Agency conducts pre-application review to ensure applicants meet requirements 2. All completed, qualifying applications forwarded to Agency's Grant Board and Susquehanna County Commissioners 3. Susquehanna County Commissioners determine grant recipients and allocation amounts

Contact Information

Staci Wilson, Director Susquehanna County Promotion & Tourism Agency Phone: (570) 278-6614 or (570) 767-4151

Mailing Address:
31 Lake Ave/PO Box 218
Montrose, PA 18801

Office Address:
88 Chenango St.
Montrose, PA 18801

Email: protected email

Website: https://visitsusqco.com/