Advertising Matching Grant Program Guidelines

VISIT FLORIDA administers an Advertising Matching Grant program to publicize the tourism advantages of the State of Florida to assist local government or non-profit corporation located within boundaries of and serving a local government provided for under Section 288.017, Florida Statutes (See excerpt below).  The Advertising Matching Grant program is a reimbursement grant program. The application period for this grant begins on December 17, 2015 and ends on February 8, 2016.

Allocation

The total for all grants awarded under the Advertising Matching Grant program shall not exceed $40,000.  Each grant awarded under the grants program shall be limited to no more than $2,500 and must be matched by non-state dollars. This is a dollar for dollar matching grant. VISIT FLORIDA will award funds once proof of expenditure and performance has been provided for the project/program. All project/program expenditures must be completed during the period of July 1, 2016 through June 15, 2017. VISIT FLORIDA will not reimburse any expenditure prior to July 1, 2016.

Eligibility

To receive an award under the Advertising Matching Grant Program, the applicant must be a local government or a non-profit corporation located within the boundaries of and serving a local government. All grants shall be restricted to local governments and nonprofit corporations serving and located in municipalities having a population of 50,000 persons or less or in counties with an unincorporated area having a population of 200,000 persons or less. Special consideration will be given for areas of higher unemployment and distress.

Grant funds should be used for marketing purposes to promote tourism advantages of the State of Florida through advertising (print, broadcast, digital, social media or out of home), direct mail, brochure production, website development, as well as other related projects/programs.  Marketing efforts cannot include VISIT FLORIDA opportunities, i.e. Welcome Center brochure distribution or VISIT FLORIDA produced publications. All marketing efforts must include the VISIT FLORIDA Grant Logo in compliance with the brand guidelines. The VISIT FLORIDA Grant Logo Guidelines can be found at www.VISITFLORIDA.org/grants in the Grants Toolkit.

No applicant may be considered for or receive more than one Advertising Matching Grant per year.

No applicant may use any other VISIT FLORIDA grant funds, for the same project or as matching funds.  Dollar-for-dollar match and/or in-kind goods or services must be demonstrated. Staff salaries are not eligible towards matching funds. In-kind goods or services must be provided by third party entities.

Excerpts from Section 288.017, Florida Statutes

288.017 Cooperative advertising matching grants program.—

(1) Enterprise Florida, Inc., is authorized to establish a cooperative advertising matching grants program and, pursuant thereto, to make expenditures and enter into contracts with local governments and nonprofit corporations for the purpose of publicizing the tourism advantages of the state. The department, based on recommendations from Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall have final approval of grants awarded through this program. Enterprise Florida, Inc., may contract with its direct-support organization to administer the program.

(2) The total annual allocation of funds for this grant program may not exceed $40,000. Each grant awarded under the program shall be limited to no more than $2,500 and shall be matched by non-state dollars. All grants shall be restricted to local governments and nonprofit corporations serving and located in municipalities having a population of 50,000 persons or less or in counties with an unincorporated area having a population of 200,000 persons or less.

(3) Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall conduct an annual competitive selection process for the award of grants under the program. In determining its recommendations for the grant awards, the commission shall consider the demonstrated need of the applicant for advertising assistance, the feasibility and projected benefit of the applicant’s proposal, the amount of non-state funds that will be leveraged, and such other criteria as the commission deems appropriate. In evaluating grant applications, the department shall consider recommendations from Enterprise Florida, Inc. The department, however, has final approval authority for any grant under this section.

Should you have any questions, please contact us at grants@VISITFLORIDA.org.  

Grant applications will be evaluated by a Review Committee comprised of Florida tourism professionals and approved by VISIT FLORIDA’s CEO and reported to the VISIT FLORIDA Advertising & Internet Committee and approved by the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors for advancement to the Department of Economic Opportunity for final approval.

 Grantees awarded grant funds will receive a Letter of Agreement, which must be signed and returned to VISIT FLORIDA before the grant is activated.

For additional information, please go to the Grants Category to the link next to the Advertising drop down selection.