Marketing Partnership Program - Cook County

The Marketing Partnership Program - Cook County is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), a state agency responsible for advancing economic development, tourism, and business growth throughout Illinois. This program is authorized under the Illinois Promotion Act and is part of an established statewide effort to strengthen tourism by supporting local marketing initiatives. The opportunity specifically targets projects within Cook County and is designed to complement a parallel program serving areas outside the county. The primary purpose of the program is to increase overnight stays in paid accommodations by funding promotional efforts that highlight tourism destinations, attractions, and events. DCEO aims to leverage state funds alongside local contributions to expand the reach and effectiveness of tourism marketing campaigns. Projects must demonstrate a clear connection to increasing visitation and tourism-related economic activity, including measurable impacts such as ticket sales, hotel tax revenue, and advertising conversions. Funding under this opportunity totals approximately 750000 dollars, with individual awards ranging from 10000 to 100000 dollars. Eligible projects must have a total project cost of at least 20000 dollars. The program requires a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution from the applicant, meaning grantees must provide at least 100 percent of the awarded grant amount through non-state sources. Matching funds must be cash contributions and cannot include in-kind support. Indirect costs are not allowed under this program. Allowable uses of funds include a wide range of tourism promotion activities such as advertising campaigns, travel guides, website development, market research, trade show participation, and promotional publications. However, the program explicitly excludes administrative costs, event production expenses, equipment purchases, and projects that solely promote for-profit entities. All promotional efforts must target audiences outside a defined geographic radius, typically 50 miles, to ensure that marketing efforts attract new visitors rather than local audiences. Eligible applicants include municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and local promotion groups located within Cook County that are focused on tourism development. Applicants must meet several compliance requirements, including registration in the GATA Grantee Portal, possession of a valid FEIN and UEI number, and good standing with state and federal oversight systems. Entities on exclusion or stop payment lists are not eligible to receive funding. The application process requires submission through an online form and includes multiple required documents such as a Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, conflict of interest disclosure, and program-specific application materials. Applications must be submitted electronically by June 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM. A technical assistance session is offered but not mandatory. Applications are reviewed competitively based on need, capacity, and quality, with scoring criteria focused on marketing effectiveness, project feasibility, and expected tourism impact. Awards are made following a merit-based review process, with funding distributed in order of highest scoring applications until funds are exhausted. The performance period is expected to run through June 30, 2027. Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement following issuance of a Notice of State Award, and ongoing reporting requirements include quarterly financial and performance reports. This program is part of an ongoing annual funding cycle, indicating the likelihood of future opportunities.

Emphasize measurable tourism impact use data driven marketing strategies demonstrate capacity to execute and clearly show how project increases overnight stays and tourism revenue