Visit Joplin Grant
The Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau (JCVB) budgets grant funding for the marketing of events and attractions that exhibit positive tourism potential to the Joplin area.
The purpose of the grant funds is to assist qualified organizations with the promotion of tourism activities striving to directly increase hotel/motel occupancy and create positive image-building publicity for Joplin.
Program History
On November 7, 2000, the voters of Joplin approved a 2% increase in the gross receipts tax on hotel and motel lodging accommodations. Council Bill No. 2000-048 directs the JCVB Advisory Board to establish a procedure for annually recommending to the City Manager and City Council the appropriation of these funds. In recommending the utilization of these funds, the Board shall consider their most effective use for marketing sports events, entryway beautification, special events, festivals, celebrations, and other related activities in Joplin designed to promote the city and its features as a destination for outside visitors and tourists.
The City Council shall, after public hearing held prior to the adoption of the budget, adopt an ordinance to allocate funds among qualifying applicants. Final allocation will be based upon the Council’s determination as to the most effective use of funds to promote tourism, conventions, and related activities in Joplin.
Fast Facts
Qualifying Applicants
Applicants can be any not-for-profit organization or for-profit business seeking to produce and promote a well-defined tourism-oriented event or attraction. Requirements are as follows:
- Not-for-profit organizations promoting an event or attraction must provide:
a) IRS determination letter of non-profit status
b) Listings of current organization board members and event committee
c) Proposed budget for this event, showing specifically where grant funds would be applied
d) Copy of liability insurance - For-Profit Organizations promoting an event or attraction must provide:
- List of current committee members or board of directors for the event. Any event initiated by a for-profit organization must have a designated committee or board for governing and organizing the proposed event.
- Letter from a financial institution confirming that a separate account has been established to receive and disburse funds only for the event for which the proposal is submitted.
- Proposed budget for this event, showing specifically where grants funds would be applied.
- Copy of liability insurance for the event.
A qualifying event is defined as:
- An EVENT is a single or multi-day gathering typically organized and staged by a civic organization or local business. The event is centered on celebrating some unique aspect of the community, the services of an agency, a historical person or milestone, a culture or tradition, or a local/national holiday. Events showing the greater ability to attract visitors from 70+ miles (one-way) outside of Joplin and retain a visitor in this area for at least 3 hours will succeed better at being funded. Regardless of the event’s scope and structure, the event’s organizing body must qualify for this grant as described in items I or II.
A qualifying attraction is defined as:
- A TOURIST ATTRACTION is a physical or cultural feature at a place that individual travelers or visitors experience for their specific leisure-related interests. These attractions typically offer natural or cultural value, historical significance, or natural or formed beauty, offering amusement, leisure, adventure, or educational value.
- A tourism attraction must be able to attract visitors from 70+ miles (one-way) outside of Joplin and retain a visitor in this area for at least 3 hours. This is to assist in broadening Joplin’s tourism reach by offering more destination experiences. Regardless, for this grant, the organizing body of the attraction must qualify as described in items I or II.
- Arts and crafts, farmer’s markets, restaurants, service businesses, and the like are generally not considered tourist attractions unless their premises are large enough to provide value-added experiences such as hosting a significant event or specific gathering. Solely, business promotions do not qualify.
- Funds can only enrich a tourism attraction’s marketing program or evergreen event materials, such as banners, signage, or value-added talent to draw a larger crowd. Funds cannot be used for construction projects or ongoing operating expenses.
Application Availability
Event and attraction Grant applications will be available on the JCVB website on April 8, 2025. FY2026 grant applications are awarded on an annual basis for events scheduled to take place between November 1, 2025, and October 31, 2026.
Mandatory Pre-Application Meeting
Whether an organization has applied for or received a JCVB grant in the past, every organization submitting an FY26 grant application MUST attend one MANDATORY Pre-Application Meeting.
This will give the organization insight into the JCVB efforts to promote Joplin as a tourism destination and explain changes made to this year’s grant program.
Meetings will be held in the JCVB office at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, or 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1.
By this meeting, the EVENT(S) you are seeking funding for MUST be listed on the VisitJoplinMO.com event calendar!
Project Management
A Project Manager must be designated as a main contact with the JCVB. This person must have detailed knowledge of the planning and organization of the event.
Deadline & Submission
Applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for review. Two (2) copies of an application with support documents are required, plus your entire application as a PDF file on a flash drive. Application materials may be mailed or delivered to the JCVB at 602 S. Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801. Applications will not be accepted through email.