Pike County Tourism Grant

The Pike County Tourism Grant is a local tourism funding opportunity offered by the County of Pike using accommodations tax funds received by Pike County. The grant provides project funding for ventures that promote area tourism and create a beneficial impact in Pike County. The opportunity is open to individuals, groups, businesses, agencies, corporations, and nonprofit organizations with a physical presence or location in Pike County or a sponsoring Pike County organization. The program encourages creative projects that enhance the lives of Pike County residents or promote tourism within the community. Supported projects may develop or expand tourism programs or facilities, build partnerships and cooperative efforts among tourism providers, or enhance and initiate efforts designed to attract visitors to the community. Tourism impact is central to the grant's purpose and evaluation process. Projects are evaluated based on factors that include the potential number of guests generated by the project, with particular emphasis on overnight stays in the community, the number of people the project will reach, the financial need of the project, the percentage of total project funding requested, the use of grant funding as seed money to start a new project or expand an existing project, the quality of the project, and the likelihood that the project will achieve its stated goals. Projects with full funding already in place and projects that do not have a beneficial impact on Pike County are ineligible. Grant funds also may not be used for the benefit of a single individual. Applicants may be eligible for up to 100 percent funding, and priority is given to projects that have additional sources of funding, including in-kind donations. Applications that include funding for hard assets or capital improvements receive lower priority and require a 75/25 match. Applicants must submit a complete project budget and schedule of completion and include accurate estimates in the project budget. For requests under $1,000, funding is provided up front upon approval. For requests over $1,000, half of the funding is provided up front, with the remainder provided upon completion of the project or as bills are received, whichever arrangement is mutually agreed upon. Funds are paid only to the applicant and not directly to contractors or vendors. Grant recipients are responsible for meeting the program's financial, compliance, and reporting requirements. Quarterly reports must be submitted to the Funding Advisory Board to provide updates on project progress and budget. Upon completion of the funded project, the applicant must submit documentation of expenses and a project recap. Any funds that are not expended or that are determined to have been used outside the scope of the grant approved by the Funding Advisory Board must be reimbursed or returned to the County's Accommodations Tax Fund. Projects must also comply with all applicable local laws, and recipients are responsible for obtaining appropriate licenses, permits, insurance, and satisfying other applicable requirements. Applications must be typed, all sections of the application must be completed, and all supporting materials must be submitted. Applicants are asked to provide organization and contact information, total project cost, the amount requested from Accommodations Tax Funds, the project title and description, and an explanation of how the proposed project will promote or expand tourism activity in Pike County. A project budget and schedule of completion are required, including all expenses and estimates when exact costs are unavailable. Applicants must identify sources of matching funds, explain whether the request represents seed money for a new project or expansion of an existing project or program, and disclose previous Pike County Accommodations Tax Funding when applicable. The completed application must be signed and dated. Applications for the Pike County Tourism Grant are currently being accepted and must be received by September 1 at 5:00 PM. Each applicant is afforded the opportunity to attend a brief question-and-answer session with the Advisory Board, although applicants do not need to be available during the board's review of the application. Applicants will be notified of approval or denial as soon as the Advisory Board makes its decision. The materials do not specify a fixed award notification date or project performance period. Completed applications may be submitted by email to pikecoilfundingadvisoryboard@gmail.com or sent to the Pike County Funding Advisory Board, c/o Pike County Clerk, 121 E. Washington, Pittsfield, IL 62363. No individual program contact or telephone number is identified in the provided materials.

Emphasize the project's potential to generate visitors, particularly overnight stays; quantify the number of people reached; demonstrate financial need and explain the percentage of project funding requested; identify additional funding and in-kind support where available; clearly explain whether funds provide seed money or expand an existing project; demonstrate project quality and a strong likelihood of achieving stated goals.