Tourism Marketing Grant Program

The Tourism Marketing Grant is administered by Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, to support the development and promotion of tourism across the state. Kansas Tourism works to enhance the visibility of Kansas as a travel destination, stimulate economic growth, and improve the quality of life in communities through increased visitation. This grant program is part of an ongoing initiative to provide financial assistance to organizations seeking to implement new and innovative marketing efforts that attract visitors from outside their immediate region. The primary purpose of the Tourism Marketing Grant is to fund first time marketing and promotional activities rather than sustain existing campaigns. The program is designed to help Destination Marketing Organizations, tourism communities, nonprofit entities, government bodies, tribal organizations, and for profit tourism related businesses expand their reach and create impactful promotional strategies. The grant emphasizes projects that generate measurable economic benefits, such as increased overnight stays, higher visitor spending, and broader regional exposure for Kansas attractions. Funding through this program supports a wide range of eligible activities, including media placement, digital marketing campaigns, website development, trade show participation, public relations initiatives, and the production of promotional materials such as brochures and videos. The grant also allows funding for market research and collaborative regional marketing initiatives. However, the program explicitly excludes certain expenses such as salaries, travel costs, fundraising activities, promotional giveaways, and local event marketing primarily targeting local audiences. All funded projects must demonstrate a clear tourism impact and align with the broader goals of increasing out of state visitation. The Tourism Marketing Grant operates on a cost reimbursement basis and requires a significant cost share from applicants. Specifically, recipients must provide at least sixty percent of the total project cost through leveraged funding, with up to half of that match allowed as in kind contributions. This structure ensures that applicants have a vested interest in the success of their projects and encourages strategic investment in marketing initiatives. Funds are only disbursed after eligible expenses have been incurred and documented, and all expenditures must align with the approved project budget. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501 c 3 or 501 c 6 status, for profit businesses, state and local government entities, tribal governments, and organizations working in partnership with political subdivisions. Applicants must meet several requirements, including maintaining good standing with the Kansas Secretary of State, having an active listing on the state tourism website, and, in some cases, securing letters of support from local Destination Marketing Organizations. Applications must be submitted through an online portal, and all required documentation must be uploaded at the time of submission. The application process requires applicants to provide detailed project descriptions, budgets, timelines, and evidence of economic impact. Required attachments include proof of organizational good standing, a tax clearance certificate, signed compliance forms, and a current W 9. Applications are evaluated through a structured scoring rubric that considers factors such as project quality, budget realism, economic benefit, leverage funding, and the potential to generate overnight stays. A review panel assesses each submission, and final award decisions are subject to approval by the Secretary of Commerce. The grant cycle opens annually on July 1 and closes on August 31, with applications due by 11 59 PM on the deadline date. Award notifications are typically issued between October and November. The period of performance may extend up to eighteen months from the start of the grant agreement. The program is recurring each year, and applicants who are not selected may reapply in future cycles. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the program manager, Babette Dixon, via email or phone as listed in the official program materials.

Focus on clearly demonstrating economic impact and out of state visitation; prioritize first time marketing initiatives; provide detailed budgets and measurable outcomes; include strong letters of support from community and DMO partners