Tourism Advertising Grant Program

The Tourism Advertising Grant Program, administered by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, aims to enhance tourism across the state by offering competitive matching grants. These funds support qualified partners in executing direct advertising strategies that promote tourism, with a focus on increasing visitor interest and spending. Eligible applicants include tourism organizations and local government entities. The program features various funding caps based on the type of event or destination, ensuring broad participation and impactful marketing initiatives.

To expand the economic benefits of tourism across the state by providing competitive, matching grant funds to qualified tourism marketing partners for direct tourism advertising expenditures.
Goal
To increase overall interest in visitation and visitor spending across South Carolina.
Objective
To leverage and expand the Discover South Carolina brand, while maximizing state and local financial resources to deliver relevant tourism brand and retail advertising messaging to targeted consumers.
Of the potential strategies in the tourism sales and marketing toolbox, advertising is the most efficient and effective paid outreach strategy available for reaching targeted audiences. The tourism partner controls the message, the creative look and feel, the placement, the schedule, etc. Further, advertising can be directly measured.
Grant Categories
The Tourism Advertising Grant program offers three categories in which qualified partners may apply for grant funding:
Festivals and EventsTown EventsArt ShowsCultural EventsAttractionsHistoric DistrictsMain StreetsMuseumsHistoric SitesOther Concentrated Areas (like the Vista in Columbia)DestinationsSCATRCVBsChambers of CommerceCitiesCountiesDMOs
Qualified Expenditures
This grant program will fund paid advertising strategies that promote South Carolina tourism.
A full list of eligible strategies can be found in the Tourism Advertising Grant Funded Guidelines document.
Funding Reimbursement Match And Funding Caps
Applicants are only eligible to apply for one grant each fiscal year through the Tourism Advertising Grant program.
There are two reimbursement match-level options:

• One-to-one match reimbursements (50% match)
• Two-to-one match reimbursements (33% match)

Each reimbursement level within the three funding categories has a set cap - or maximum amount of funding - the applying organization may seek.
Funding caps are as follows:

• 1 to 1
• Festival/Event - Up to $3,000
• Attraction - Up to $20,000
• Destination - Up to $45,000
• 2 to 1
• Festival/Event - From $3,000.01 to 6,000
• Attraction - From $20,000.01 to 40,000
• Destination - From $45,000.01 to 100,000

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible Applicants:South Carolina Tourism Region Organizations Branches/Offices of local government in South Carolina with an established tourism-marketing programOnly one application per umbrella organization will be accepted for submission.Have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)Are headquartered in South Carolina; with the program operating in South CarolinaHave been in existence for a minimum of one year prior to the fiscal year startMust score at least a score of 70 from the application judging process

Ineligibility

Ineligible Applicants: State Agencies;Organizations that are not federal non-profit (501c)Organizations in operation for under 1 yearOrganizations that receive other state marketing grant funds, includingDestination Specific Marketing GrantsEmerging Destinations GrantsNote: Events which receive funding for paid advertising purchases through a STAR grant are NOT eligible to receive funding for paid advertising through the Tourism Advertising Grant (TAG) program, regardless of which organization applies for grant funding or in which fiscal year the application occurs.