The Marketing Event Grant Program has a long history at the Walton County Tourism Department. It began its journey under many other names, such as “Sponsorship” and “Autumn Tides.” If you delve deep enough, you’ll find those funds helped create the original ArtsQuest held in Grayton Beach. Event funds have varied throughout the years. It has been as low as $50,000 in reimbursable funds and has grown from $75,000 to its current level of $750,000.
The Marketing Event Grant Program is designed to help local events supplement their marketing efforts with additional, reimbursable funds from the Tourism Department. Event organizers submit applications which are then scored by the Walton County Tourism Marketing and Communications Committee, based on legal criteria and the terms under which Tourism is permitted to provide funds to other entities.
Currently, there are three levels of funding for the program – a Signature Event at $20,000, an Experience Event at $10,000 and a Community Event at $5,000. A Signature Event is a large-scale, multi-day event with significant ticket sales that can demonstrate a track record of attendance and room nights booked in Walton County. Experience Events are mid-sized, generally consisting of one or more days of significant event activity, also with a track record of attendance and room nights generated. The Community Event designation level is new to the program this year, created to support events promoting the area on a regional level that include a significant day of activity.
“Main Street DeFuniak Springs has been able to enhance event quality and community engagement with the financial assistance of the Event Grant Program. These Main Street events, supported by the program, have connected our community, making a lasting impact on Downtown DeFuniak Springs,” says Cecilia Canut, executive director of Main Street DeFuniak Springs.
“The Marketing Event Grant Program boosts the marketing efforts of events like The Bloody Mary Festival while increasing ticket sales to help support local charities like Habitat for Humanity of Walton County,” adds Teresa Jones, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Walton County.
Applications for the Marketing Event Grant Program will be live on www.WaltonCountyFLTourism.com February 2 – March 22, 2024.
