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Explore Visit Gainesville, Alachua County Grant and Sponsorship Programs
The mission of program support funded through Visit Gainesville, Alachua County is to promote and enhance the thriving tourism industry in the destination. Funding opportunities are aimed at supporting local non-profit organizations, municipalities, event producers, and more, with the goal of generating tourism, increasing economic development, encouraging community engagement, and enhancing the visitor experience in Alachua County. The initiatives empower you to create memorable events, festivals, and projects that highlight the unique attractions and culture of our region and to market and advertise them to attract visitors from outside Alachua County to the event.
All grant and sponsorships are offered to aid in the operations and promotions of events that have, as one of their main purposes, the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists. Applicants must be a legally established organization producing activities for public participation in Alachua County. A copy of Active Status from Sunbiz.org must be attached to the application. Grant and event sponsorships require documented out-of-county marketing utilizing the Visit Gainesville, Alachua County logo, along with other stipulations for funding. To receive an application, and for complete details, email info@visitgainesville.com for more information.
Special Event Sponsorships
Events and festivals are crucial to the implementation of tourism marketing in Alachua County, and dozens of local organizers and event producers are supported through Visit Gainesville, Alachua County special event sponsorships annually. Festivals attract visitors, and the economic impact visitors bring positively impacts local businesses in a myriad of ways, including admission fees, lodging and transportation for festival talent and producers, parking, food, beverage, merchandise sales, and more. If you are planning a special event or festival with the goal of attracting audience members, please reach out to info@VisitGainesville.com for a Special Event Sponsorship application.
Meeting Advantage Program / Conference Grant
Meetings and conferences that utilize hotel block rooms are supported by grants of up to $10,000 per conference based on production of conference-based room nights. If you are planning a conference or meeting with hotel room blocks for attendees, please reach out to info@VisitGainesville.com for a Meeting Advantage Program application.
Cooperative Billboard Advertising Program
This program assists in funding for qualifying billboards to advertise tourism-focused businesses, with the goal of creating a leading presence as a visitor-focused destination in the regional trade area, helping to create a strong presence for Alachua County among the millions of drivers along I-75.
Grants to Small Towns and Municipalities
This program supports tourism funding for special events and festivals created and managed by small towns and cities including the City of Alachua, City of Archer, City of Hawthorne, City of High Springs, Town of La Crosse, Town of Micanopy, City of Newberry, and the City of Waldo. If you are planning a special event or festival for a municipality, please reach out to info@VisitGainesville.com for a Grants to Small Towns and Municipalities application.
Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant
Grant applications open once per year. Funding for events occurring between October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 have been awarded and approved. The next grant period will open in summer 2025 for events occurring after October 1, 2025. Agencies must provide documented IRS non-profit, tax-exempt status. If you have a cultural event or festival prior to that date, please email info@VisitGainesville.com for a Special Event Sponsorship application.
Local Sports Destination Enhancement Grant APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024 BY 5:00 P.M.
Agencies must provide documented IRS non-profit, tax-exempt status. A copy of Active Status from Sunbiz.org must be attached to the application. Grant applications open once per year. Applications are now open for events occurring between October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. If you would like to receive an application, please email info@VisitGainesville.com with cc to Kathy Munden at kmunden@alachuacounty.us
Please Note: A complete list of application criteria, requirements, funding request amounts, allowable expenditures, credit attribution requirements and additional guidelines are available on the grant and sponsorship applications.
