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Partner Resources

Visit Gainesville, Alachua County manages three grant programs:
The Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant, the Local Sports Destination Enhancement Grant and the Conference Grant.

Local Sports Destination Enhancement Grant

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has allocated a portion of the Tourist Development Tax revenue to aid in the operations and promotions of local sporting events that have, as one of their main purposes, the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists. Applicants must fulfill the following:

  1. Be a legally established local sports organization or other local organization providing a sporting event.
  2. The operations, events and activities must be within the boundaries of Alachua County.
  3. The proposed event has as one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists.
  4. Have documented IRS non-profit, tax-exempt status. A copy of Active Status from Sunbiz.org must be attached to the application.
  5. Governmental and educational organizations are not eligible to apply for local sports program grants.
  6. Applications will not be accepted from organizations who have applied for or receive Tourist Development Tax funding through the Gainesville Sports Commission, Sponsorships, Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grants and Conference Grants in the same year.
  7. Applications will not be accepted for organizations to re-grant or provide funding to individuals or other organizations.

Conference Grant

In order to support and enhance Alachua County as a destination for conferences, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has allocated a portion of the Tourist Development Tax to aid in the operations and promotions of conferences that have as one of their main purposes the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the conference to tourists.

Applicants must fulfill the following:

  1. Be a legally established entity. Individuals are not eligible.
  2. Conferences and paid conference lodging accommodations must be within the boundaries of Alachua County.
  3. The proposed conference must have as one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the conference to tourists.

The grant provides up to $10,000 for qualified events.

For more information about the conference grant, contact Bailey McClellan at bmcclellan@alachuacounty.us or call 352-374-5260.

Special Event Sponsorship

Eligibility
Applicants must fulfill the following at the time of application:

  1. Be a legally established entity. Individuals are not eligible.
  2. The event, activities and paid lodging accommodations must be within the boundaries of Alachua County.
  3. The proposed event has as one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of
    the event to tourists.
  4. Applications will not be accepted from organizations who have applied for Tourist Development funding
    through the Gainesville Sports Commission, Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grants, Local Sports
    Destination Enhancement Grants and Conference Grants in the same year.
  5. Applications will not be accepted for organizations to re-grant or provide funding to individuals or
    organizations.
  6. Applications will not be accepted from library districts, public or private schools, school foundations, student
    groups, colleges or universities.
  7. Government entities, municipalities, and CRA’s may apply.
  8. Entities may not request more than one sponsorship per Alachua County fiscal year.

Please Note: A complete list of application criteria, requirements, funding request amounts, allowable expenditures, credit attribution requirements and additional guidelines are available on the grant applications.

Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant

In order to support and enhance Alachua County as a culturally interesting and vibrant destination, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has allocated a portion of the Tourist Development Tax revenue to aid in the operations and promotions of arts, cultural, and nature events that have, as one of their main purposes, the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists.

Applicants must fulfill the following:

  1. Be a legally established arts, nature or culture organization.
  2. The operations, events and activities must be within the boundaries of Alachua County.
  3. The proposed event has as one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists.
  4. Have documented IRS non-profit, tax-exempt status. A copy of Active Status from Sunbiz.org must be attached to the application.
  5. Institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for arts, nature or culture programs and events, within the request limit.
  6. Applications will not be accepted from organizations who have applied for Tourist Development funding through the Gainesville Sports Commission, Sponsorships, Local Sports Destination Enhancement Grants and Conference Grants in the same year.
  7. Applications will not be accepted for organizations to re-grant or provide funding to individuals or other organizations.
  8. Government entities are not eligible to apply for Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement grants.