TOURISM PROMOTION GRANT PROGRAM

Conventions, meetings, and seminars application

This grant supports conventions, meetings, and seminars that are hosted within Porter County, have a large number of attendees, are longer than one day, have participants from outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties, and encourage overnight stays in our local lodging.
Name of Event*
Date of Event*
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Organization or business applying for grant
Contact person*
Mailing address*
Street Address City State Zip code
Phone*
Email*
Website
Tax ID number
Date of incorporation
Describe your organization or business
List total dollar amount requesting
Maximum request—$2,500 (first year); $1,500 (second year); and $1,000 (third year). We only fund events for three years. This grant program is a 50% matching, reimbursable grant. If you are approved for a $2,500 grant, you must spend $5,000 in qualified marketing to receive the $2,500. Also, you will only be reimbursed for your expenses after your event or project is completed.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Name of meeting, conference, seminar, etc.
What facility is being used to hold the event (include address)?
The event must be held within Porter County.

Name Address City State ZIP
Please give a description of your event.
Write a description that gives a good understanding of your overall event. IMPORTANT: you need to write this description with the assumption that no one knows anything about your event.
Summarize how this event will be marketed.
Give a DETAILED description of your overall marketing plan to attract visitors from outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties to your event. The description of the marketing plan is an important deciding factor for receiving funds. Describe how each marketing tool will achieve your goals.
Advertising or promotion placed outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Radio, TV, or newspaper ads placed outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Direct mail or brochures distributed outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Posters or flyers distributed outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Website development (NOT operation)
Professional event speaker with name recognition outside of Northwest Indiana.
Facebook ads focused outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Search engine optimization
Digital banner advertisements focused outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Online ads focused outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Content ads focused outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
Other (describe)
What was the total visitation to this event last year? If this is a new event, what is your projected visitation?
How how will you track visitation?
How many visitors do you anticipate will be from outside Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties?
How will you measure the success of your efforts to market your event to people outside Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties?
AGREEMENT

On behalf of the organization identified on this application, I certify that this application meets the eligibility requirements for the Indiana Dunes Tourism’s Tourism Promotion Grant and that the information entered is true and accurate.

I understand that the grant may provide up to fifty (50) percent of the total costs, not to exceed $2,500 (first year); $1,500 (second year); and $1,000 (third year), that no in-kind contributions are included in the match, that no grant will be awarded to a project completed before written notice by Indiana Dunes Tourism, and the completed promotional material must acknowledge this grant by bearing the statement “Financial support provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism” along with the Indiana Dunes Tourism grant logo. I also understand that all documents and written evaluations of this project must be submitted to Indiana Dunes Tourism within 60 days of when the event occurred or by December 13, 2019, whichever date comes first, unless otherwise noted by Indiana Dunes Tourism. There is a $500 forfeiture for late materials submission. Documents and written evaluations submitted after December 14, 2018 will not receive funding. (See guidelines for further explanation).
Name of person completing the form*
First Last
Title
Date*