Tourism Grants

Illinois Promotion Act Programs

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity/Bureau of Tourism will supply interested entities with application guidelines for the three Illinois Promotion Act Program matching grants upon request. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis beginning May 1, with grants awarded July 1 through the end of each State fiscal year, or until all appropriated funds have been awarded. Applications must be received a minimum of 60 days prior to the project initiation date in order to be considered for funding. The review and evaluation process should be completed within approximately 60 days of the submission of a completed application.

Local Tourism and Convention Bureau Program (LTCB)
Grant

Provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to certified local tourism and convention bureaus to enable them to conduct promotional activities designed to increase the number of business and pleasure travelers visiting their areas.

More about the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau Program

For information call 217-785-6360

Regional Tourism Development Organization (RTDO)
Grant

The Regional Tourism Development Organization Program (RTDO) provides grants to not-for-profit regional tourism development organizations, certified by the Department, that assist in de-veloping tourism throughout a designated multi-county geographical area.

More about the Regional Tourism Development Organization Program

For information call 217-524-2998.

Tourism Attraction Development Program (TAP)
Grant

Provides grants to counties, municipalities, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations to assist in the development and improvement of tourist attractions in Illinois, thus increasing hotel/motel stays and providing economic impact for the state.

More about the Tourism Attraction Development Program

Tourism Attraction Development Program Application (PDF)

For information call 217-785-6337.

Tourism Marketing Partnership Program (MPP)
Grant

Provides matching grants to counties, municipalities and local not-for-profit organizations to promote tourism attractions and events in their areas, thus increasing hotel/motel occupancy and travel into and throughout the state.

More about the Tourism Marketing Partnership Program

Tourism Marketing Partnership Program Application (PDF)

For information call 217-557-2409

Tourism Private Sector Program (TPS)
Grant

Provides a dollar-for-dollar match to assist private-sector efforts to attract and host major national or international events in Illinois, such as trade shows, conventions, major sports events or other premier activities that increase hotel/motel stays and provide economic impact for the state.

More about the Tourism Private Sector Program

Tourism Private Sector Program Application (PDF)

For information call 217-785-6360.

Visit the Tourism section now to find out how DCEO can help your tourism soar!

Tourism Section

International Tourism Grant Program

In accordance with the International Tourism Program, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity offers a number of grants to assist Illinois communities in coordinating and promoting their international tourism efforts. These grants are intended to help certified local tourism and convention bureaus generate overnight stays and promote travel throughout the State of Illinois, impacting economic growth on an international level.

The International Tourism Grant Program can provide up to 50 percent of eligible costs associated with developing or expanding international marketing efforts.

This grant is available only to certified Illinois local tourism and convention bureaus, as recognized by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

For information call 312-814-2637.

Download the International Tourism Grant Application Form (pdf)

Local Tourism And Convention Bureau Program (LTCB)

Through the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau (LTCB) Program, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity/Bureau of Tourism is authorized to provide grants to certified local tourism and convention bureaus to conduct promotional activities designed to increase the number of business and tourism visitors to and within the State of Illinois.

In Fiscal Year 2002, the LTCB Program appropriation is $12,578,800, with 41 certified convention and visitors bureaus participating in the program. Each State Fiscal Year, 1/3 of the appropriation is allocated for grants to local convention and tourism bureaus in cities with a population greater than 500,000, and 2/3 is allocated for grants to local convention and tourism bureaus in the remainder of the State based on a funding formula stated in the Rules and Regulations. That funding formula is based on the following weighted factors: 5% population of the bureau service area; 30% food/beverage tax collected in the bureau service area; and, 65% State's hotel/motel tax collected in the bureau service area.

The LTCB Grant Program is a dollar-for-dollar match program, with the bureaus matching their state grants with various types of local funds including local hotel/motel tax, membership dues, interest, advertisement sales, and/or other private funds.

Bureaus eligible to receive funds are those local tourism and convention bureaus that are 1) either units of local government or incorporated as not-for-profit organizations; 2) in legal existence for at least two years before July 1, 2001; 3) operating with a paid, full-time staff whose sole purpose is to promote tourism in the designated service area; and, 4) affiliated with one or more municipalities or counties that support the bureau with local hotel-motel taxes.

You may call (217) 785-6360 for additional information and to request the LTCB Program certification criteria.

Regional Tourism Development Organization Program (RTDO)

The intent of this program is to assist multi-county tourism to market and develop major, sustainable, new tourism products with the strongest potential to increase economic impact of tourism throughout the State. The Program appropriation for Fiscal Year 2002 is $720,000.00.

RTDO's eligible to receive funds are those multi-county regional service areas that employ a minimum of one full time professional executive director; has the experience and qualifications to serve as a resource center; the ability to assist the Department with the development and marketing of tourism projects and the ability/equipment to maintain the DCEO/Bureau of Tourism product database information.

You may call (217) 524-2998 for additional information and to request the RTDO certification criteria.

Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program (TAP)

The Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program (TAP) provides grants to counties, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, local promotion groups, and for-profit businesses for the development or improvement of tourism attractions in Illinois. The intent of the program is to assist in funding the development of projects that increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the State. Development and improvement of fishing and hunting areas, historical sites, vacation regions, areas of historical or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas or other facilities, which attract or serve travelers are the types of projects targeted by the Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program. For Fiscal Year 2007, the TAP appropriation is 1,876,900. 

Grant funds may be used for a wide variety of activities necessary to improve an existing tourist attraction or develop new tourist attractions, including but not limited to: land acquisition; purchase, construction or renovation of buildings; purchase or installation of machinery or equipment; and, creation and implementation of interpretive programs. Funds may also be used for conducting feasibility studies, studies for development of new tourist attractions and tourism training programs.

A Tourism Attraction Grant is not designed to cover the entire cost of a project. The maximum grant award is $1,000,000 and must be leveraged with at least 50 percent of the eligible project expenditures from other sources. These funds must be available to the project at the time of application submittal. The amount available for matching purposes must be expended during the grant period. Any funds spent prior to the grant award date cannot be considered in fulfillment of the leverage requirements.

You may call (217) 785-6337 for additional information and to request a TAP application. You may also download our online TAP application below.

Application (PDF)

Tourism Marketing Partnership Program (MPP)

The Tourism Marketing Partnership Program (MPP) provides matching grants to counties, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, and local promotion groups for the promotion of tourism destinations, attractions and events. The intent of the program is to increase visitation and travel expenditures in the State of Illinois impacting the economic growth of the travel industry. For Fiscal Year 2007, the Marketing Partnership Program appropriation is $1,750,000.

Examples of eligible promotional projects and activities include, but are not limited to: Production and printing of travel related brochures that are primarily used as fulfillment for advertising placed outside of 50 miles; advertising primarily directed toward areas outside of 50 miles from the attraction, event, or area being promoted; rental of billboard space and artwork, design and production of billboard advertising to promote a destination, attraction, event or other travel related service; web site development; marketing research; travel/trade show booth space rental and expenses (i.e., electric, furniture rental, cleaning, etc.), and travel/trade show registration fees for both domestic and international marketing; 1-800 number telephone expenses for visitor inquiries; and expenses for shipping and distribution of promotional publications, purchase and use of mailing lists for direct mail promotions, and postage used for fulfillment.

Up to 40% of the total project cost may be funded for approved projects generating additional visitation to the area from outside 50 miles but generating limited overnight stays. Up to 50% of the total project cost may be funded for projects that generate significant visitation and overnight stays to the area. Up to 60% of the total project cost may be funded for: a) First-time marketing activities that have the ability to generate significant visitation and overnight stays; b) Advertising of a value-added package including overnight accommodations with attraction admission, coupons, etc.; c) Marketing an entire heritage tourism demonstration area or scenic byway; and, d) Projects including partners across multiple jurisdictions outside their normal designated service area. The total project cost must equal or exceed $3,000 to be considered for a grant award.

You may call (217) 557-2409 for additional information and to request a MPP application. You may also download our online MPP application below.

Application (PDF)

Tourism Private Sector Grant Program (TPS)

The Tourism Private Sector Grant Program (TPS) provides grants to Illinois not-for-profit organizations, for-profit entities, counties, municipalities and local promotion groups to match funds from sources in the private sector for the purpose of attracting and hosting tourism events. The intent of this program is to assist in attracting and hosting tourism events such as major conventions, trade shows, sporting activities, and new or enhanced festivals that have the potential to attract visitors from outside a 50-mile radius and to produce significantly increased economic impact for the State of Illinois through overnight stays. 

Tourism Private Sector grants can provide up to 50% of the eligible costs associated with attracting and hosting tourism events when the remaining 50% of the project cost is financed by private sector funds (i.e., non-government entities). Total project costs (grant and match) must be a minimum of $20,000.

Activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to: advertising and marketing activities directed toward areas outside of 50 miles from the event; transportation and housing; incentives; building rental; receptions and banquets; registrations; entertainment and speakers; programming; photography, postage and printing; audiovisual; telemarketing; promotional items; and temporary event staff. Costs associated with hosting existing or repeat events will not be eligible unless documentation can be provided that the event was secured in direct competition with other states or significant enhancements will be made to the event to increase the attendance from outside 50 miles. Activities that are ineligible for funding include: developing or making permanent improvements to facilities; purchase of equipment; normal payroll or operating expenses; and purchase of alcoholic beverages.

Grant funds will not be used to assist one community in attracting an existing Illinois event from another Illinois community. If multiple Illinois entities apply for costs associated with attracting the same event, no entity will receive grant funds for the attraction of that event. If an Illinois entity is successful in its bid and gets the event, grant funds may be available to that entity for the hosting of the event.

You may call (217) 785-6360 for additional information and to request a TPS Grant Program application. You may also download our online TPS application below.

Application (PDF)