If you attend just about any major festival, concert, or other event in Hernando County, chances are the Hernando County Tourist Development Council’s Special Event Marketing Grant helped make it happen! And now, TDC is pleased to announce that the Special Event Marketing Grant Funding application period is now available year-round! The next chance to apply for a grant is coming up Sept. 26.
“We’re hoping to encourage the development of new events in the community and help existing events grow and expand,” noted Roger King, chairman of the TDC and owner of The Dolan House B&B in Brooksville.
The Hernando County Local Special Event Marketing Grant Funding Program provides funding to local organizations to market festivals and special events that promote Hernando County as a destination for visitors.
“The Visitors Bureau has sponsored many events over the years; one of our longest-running events is Art in the Park, an event we love for many reasons,” explained Tammy Heon, tourism development manager at Florida’s Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau. “We’ve also sponsored the Good Neighbor Trail Ride, the Brooksville Native American Festival, the Spring Bluegrass Festival, and, on its day, the Brooksville Raid. As you can see from the list, many of our annual events have gone by the wayside. The destination needs some new events, preferably larger, two-day events that welcome visitors for an entire weekend. We’d love to work with organizations to help them get started and launch a new event that would become an annual event.”
Funds allocated through the grant program must be applied to expenditures associated with marketing and promoting the event to visitors and guests outside the parameters of Hernando County. The program is administered through the Hernando County Tourist Development Council (HCTDC) and Florida’s Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau. Florida’s Adventure Coast, Brooksville – Weeki Wachee offers authentic experiences of the Sunshine State at its natural best. A wonderland of outdoor adventures, active family fun, centuries of history, Southern hospitality, and vibrant local color offers a one-of-a-kind visit you won’t soon forget. Enjoy water adventures, land adventures, attractions, parks, and more. Visit them at FloridasAdventureCoast.com.
“The grant funding program was in place when I arrived,” said Tammy Heon. “The TDC voted to suspend it for two years during the recession when our revenues were so low. Happily, we brought it back in 2013, and it has been in place since then. The amount given varies by year. Currently, we are budgeting $50,000 annually. So far this year, we have awarded $20,250 of that budget.”
Heon is excited to implement an unprecedented year-round extension of this vital event funding program. “The TDC’s decision to open the grant funding program on a year-round basis is due to our strategic plan,” said Heon. “The plan clearly states that we need to increase the number of festivals and special events held here on Florida’s Adventure Coast. Since the Visitor’s Bureau does not actually host events, the best way we can help increase them is to offer more funding for those organizations that do host events. Ideally, we will see organizations launch events that have a repeat, annual draw, such as Art in the Park or Swampfest.”
Applicants for this grant are asked to supply a completed application with a detailed marketing plan. All forms must be completed and submitted to the Visitors Bureau before the HCTDC Meeting, during which presentations will be heard. TDC Meetings are held bi-monthly, with meetings scheduled for September 26th and November 21st, 2024.
Heon asserts that guests attending our festivals and events are left wanting more after a single visit to our beautiful tropical area.
“Many visitors to the destination made their first trip here for a festival or special event, saw how beautiful the area is and then planned to return for a longer visit,” said Heon. “A day trip for a festival often turns into a return trip for a weekend or longer, making those events key drivers in visitation.”
“It’s easier than ever to apply for a Tourism Marketing Grant,” noted Tammy Heon. “We’ve really simplified the application process with an online application and the elimination of oral presentations. A great idea with a solid marketing plan is all it takes.”
Here’s how it works.
“The link is available on FloridasAdventureCoast.com on the About Us page. They simply need to complete the form and the TDC will review it at their meeting. The remaining TDC meetings for this fiscal year are July 25 and September 26. Our budget for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1, is also $50,000,” she said. “The grants are reimbursement grants, meaning they are paid after the event is hosted and a report submitted. In addition to a monetary award, the Visitors Bureau now offers a free video to promote the event. John Athanason works with each organization to create a promotional video that is released via social media and provided to the event organizers for use in their marketing. Having a free, professionally produced video is a game changer for many organizations, and we’ve found them to be great at promoting events.”
Link to the Special Event Grant Funding Application
