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:
I. 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 grants funds would be applied
d) Copy of liability insurance
II. For-Profit Organizations promoting an event or attraction must provide:
a) 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.
b) 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.
c) Proposed budget for this event, showing specifically where grants funds would be applied.
d) Copy of liability insurance for the event.
III. 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 historic person or milestone, culture or tradition, or 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 have the better success at being funded.
Regardless of the event’s scope and structure, for this grant the organizing body of the event must qualify as described in item I. or II.
IV. 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 show the ability 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 item I. or II.
Arts and crafts, farmer’s markets, restaurants, and service businesses and the like are generally not considered to be tourist attractions unless their premises are large enough to provide value-added experience such as hosting a large event or specific gathering. Solely, business promotions do not qualify.
Funds can only be used for enriching a tourism attraction’s marketing program or evergreen event materials such as banner and signage, or value-added talent to draw a larger crowd. Funds cannot be used for construction projects or ongoing operation expenses.