The purpose of the Tourism Support of Funds Program is to assist Currituck County community groups, non-profit organizations, and tourism-related businesses in promoting and marketing tourism and culturally-related events and activities. The program provides funds for advertising and promoting events, festivals, and other special promotions. Marketing activities under this program include paid media advertising, promotional materials, shoulder season promotions, and events that draw visitors and tourists from outside Currituck County.
A Support of Funds Application is required to be completed and must be received by the Travel & Tourism Department Director at least thirty (30) days prior to the Tourism Advisory Board meeting in which the application will be reviewed (Download copies of the application below). Applications will be reviewed and awards granted at the Currituck County Tourism Advisory Board’s quarterly meetings, held in November, February, May and August. Primary consideration will be given to projects that enhance the long-term growth of the tourism industry and have the greatest potential for positive economic impact on the local economy.
Application - Non-Profit Organizations
Application - For-Profit Businesses
The maximum amount of funds that any non-profit or not-for-profit group can receive during a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) is $5,000; the maximum amount for a business is $2,500. (See levels of available funding listed on the Application for Support of Funds.) Organizations and businesses that hold multiple events during a fiscal year must complete a separate application for each event. Total award amounts for all events held during a fiscal year may not exceed $5,000 for a non-profit/not-for-profit sponsored event; for-profit business sponsored events are limited to receiving $2,500 per year.
The goal of the Support of Funds Program is to provide groups, organizations and businesses with seed money to establish the marketing of their event(s). It is expected that over the years the event(s) will become self-supporting enough so that fewer funds are needed for promotion. Note: Funds are awarded annually per APPLICANT, not per event.
Funds will be paid directly to the media source/vendor and can only be awarded for advertising, promotional materials and marketing campaigns. All contracts for services and invoices that are to be paid by the County must be made to: Currituck County Department of Travel & Tourism, P.O. Box 39, Currituck, NC 27929. Contracts/insertion orders/written estimates are required to be submitted to the Tourism Director at least two weeks prior to the event. Funds cannot be used for entertainment, refreshments, equipment, program books or pamphlets, or any other promotional product.
ELIGIBILITY:
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Groups, organizations and businesses making an application are required to be located within Currituck County.
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In order to be eligible for funding, the event must be held in Currituck County and the majority of attendees must be from outside of the County.
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Matching funds are required for businesses. Copies of PAID invoices showing the exact amount spent by the business for direct advertising of the event must be provided to the Tourism Department no later than 30 days after the event. Should the business not provide copies of these invoices, the business MUST refund Currituck County the amount of awarded funding within 60 days of the event.
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Applications for events that are co-organized by a non-profit organization and a for-profit business must be in the name of the primary organizer of the event.
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Groups, organizations and businesses seeking program funds are required to meet with the Tourism Director or her designee prior to submitting an application. Any group, organization or business submitting an application without meeting with the Tourism Director or her designee will not be eligible for funds. In addition, a representative of the applying group/organization/business is required to attend the Tourism Advisory Board meeting when the application is reviewed by the Board. Failure to have a representative at the meeting will result in the application being denied.
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The Tourism Department must be provided with a booth/display space free of charge at the event. The booth/display space must be located near the entrance to the event.
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Unauthorized changes in the advertising plan from the approved application will be sufficient cause for the reduction in, or complete withdrawal of, awarded funds.
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It is the responsibility of the applicant to see that invoices are sent to the Tourism Department. Invoices must be submitted no later than 60 days following an event.
APPEALS:
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An appeal may be made to the Tourism Advisory Board, and it must be submitted no later than 30 days after denial. Appeals will be considered at the next regular scheduled meeting of the Tourism Advisory Board. Mail to: Currituck County Department of Travel & Tourism, Attn.: Support of Funds Appeal, P.O. Box 39, Currituck, NC 27929.
Note: In some cases, a special use permit is required for events (per the County’s Unified Development Ordinance):
Special Events. Circuses, fairs, carnivals, festivals, or other types of special events that (i) run for longer than one (1) day but not longer than two (2) weeks, (ii) are intended to or likely to attract substantial crowds, and (iii) are unlike the customary or usual activities generally associated with the property where the special event is to be located.
Special Use Permit. A permit issued by the Board of Commissioners that authorizes the recipient to make use of property in accordance with the requirements of this Ordinance as well as any additional requirements imposed by the Board of Commissioners.
No application will be approved for any event that is in violation of the Currituck County Unified Development Ordinance. Consideration will be given, at the discretion of the Tourism Advisory Board, to applicants who can demonstrate they are making a good-faith effort to comply with County regulations, including the Unified Development Ordinance.
Revised June 1, 2009 – Tourism Development Authority