Minority Convention Grant Program Guidelines

VISIT FLORIDA administers the Minority Convention Grant program to assist local governments and non-profit corporations/organizations as they attract national minority conferences and conventions to Florida provided under Section 288.124, Florida Statutes (See excerpt below). The Minority Convention Grant program is a reimbursement grant program. Grant funding may not be used to subsidize existing scheduled events.  No applicant may be considered for or receive more than one Minority Convention Grant per fiscal year. 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 this program shall not exceed $40,000.  Multiple grants for varying amounts may be awarded. The funds will only be allocated to entities that propose an activity or promotional program whose purpose is to attract national conferences and conventions primarily involving minority persons to the state of Florida.  Minority persons shall be as defined in Section 288.703, Florida Statutes (See excerpt below), except they need not be residents of Florida. VISIT FLORIDA will award funds once proof of expenditure and performance has been provided. All 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 Minority Convention Grant program, the applicant must be a local government or non-profit corporation or organization.  Grant applicant must have prior experience hosting conferences or conventions.

Grant funds should be used for marketing purposes to attract national conferences and/or conventions to Florida through advertising (print, broadcast, digital, social media or out of home), direct mail, brochure production, sales videos and presentations, 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.

VISIT FLORIDA encourages applicants to submit a detailed proposal defining each component and its related budget. 

Applicants must propose a feasible and effective strategy for contacting meeting planners and assign one individual to be responsible for the contacts.

Applicants must estimate the economic impact of the conference or convention on the local area and the potential for generation of future business.  Projects/Programs must have expressed support from other local governments and non-profits in the area.

No applicant may be considered for or receive more than one Minority Convention Grant per fiscal year.

Excerpts from Sections 288.124 and 288.703, Florida Statutes

288.124 Convention grants program.—Enterprise Florida, Inc., is authorized to establish a convention grants program and, pursuant to that program, to recommend to the department expenditures and contracts with local governments and nonprofit corporations or organizations for the purpose of attracting national conferences and conventions to Florida. Preference shall be given to local governments and nonprofit corporations or organizations seeking to attract minority conventions to Florida. Minority conventions are events that primarily involve minority persons, as defined in s. 288.703, who are residents or nonresidents of the state. Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall establish guidelines governing the award of grants and the administration of this program. The department has final approval authority for any grants under this section. The total annual allocation of funds for this program shall not exceed $40,000.

History.—s. 5, ch. 91-218; s. 57, ch. 96-320; s. 166, ch. 2011-142.

Section 288.703, Florida Statutes

Definitions

As used in this act, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the content shall indicate another meaning or intent:

(1)  "Minority business enterprise" means any small business concern which is organized to engage in commercial transactions, which is domiciled in Florida, and which is at least 51-percent-owned by minority persons who are members of an insular group that is of a particular racial, ethnic, or gender makeup or national origin, which has been subjected historically to disparate treatment due to identification in and with that group resulting in an under representation of commercial enterprises under the group's control, and whose management and daily operations are controlled by such persons. A minority business enterprise may primarily involve the practice of a profession.

(2)  "Minority person" means a lawful, permanent resident of Florida who is:

            (a)  An African American, a person having origins in any of the racial groups of the African Discendant.

            (b)  A Hispanic American, a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, South America, Central America, or the Caribbean, regardless of race.

            (c)  An Asian American, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778.

            (d)  A Native American, a person who has origins in any of the Indian Tribes of North America prior to 1835, upon presentation of proper documentation thereof as established by rule of the Department of Management Services.

            (e)  An American woman.

(3)  "Certified minority business enterprise" means a business which has been certified by the certifying organization or jurisdiction in accordance with s. 287.0943(1).

(4)  "Department" means the Department of Labor and Employment Security.

(5)  "Ombudsman" means an office or individual whose responsibilities include coordinating with the Minority Business Advocacy and Assistance Office for the interests of and providing assistance to small and minority business enterprises in dealing with governmental agencies and in developing proposals for changes in state agency rules.

(6)  "Financial institution" means any bank, trust company, insurance company, savings and loan association, credit union, federal lending agency, or foundation.

(7)  "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment Security.

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

Grant applications will be evaluated by a Review Committee comprised of tourism professionals and approved by VISIT FLORIDA’s CEO and reported to the VISIT FLORIDA Meetings and Travel Trade 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 Minority drop down selection.