The Cass County Visitors Bureau (CCVB) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Tourism Grant & Sponsorship Program, a strategic investment initiative designed to provide organizations with a predictable, transparent, and consistent funding process for tourism promotion, event sponsorships, destination development, and related initiatives.
To support organizations with projects before the regular quarterly funding schedule is fully implemented, the Cass County Visitors Bureau is offering a Special Inaugural Funding Opportunity for eligible tourism-related projects occurring between October 2026 and February 2027.
Following the inaugural funding opportunity, the Cass County Visitors Bureau will transition to its new quarterly Tourism Grant & Sponsorship Program.
Application Deadlines and Award Announcements
Inaugural Funding Opportunity – August 2026
August 28, 2026 application deadline with awards announced by Sept. 30, 2026.
Projects and events that will incur expenses between October 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027 should apply.
Quarterly Program Deadlines
December 15, 2026 application deadline with awards announced by February 1, 2027
Projects and events that will incur expenses after March 1, 2027 should apply.
·March 15, 2027 application deadline with awards announced by May 1, 2027
Projects and events that will incur expenses after June 1, 2027 should apply.
June 15, 2027 application deadline with awards announced by August 1, 2027
Projects and events incurring reimbursable expenses after September 1, 2027 should apply.
September 15, 2027 application deadline with awards announced by November 1, 2027
Projects and events incurring reimbursable expenses after December 1, 2027 should apply.
December 15, 2027 application deadline with awards announced by February 1, 2028
Projects and events incurring reimbursable expenses after March 1, 2027 should apply.
About the Program
The Cass County Visitors Bureau Tourism Grant and Sponsorship Program is funded by revenues from the Innkeeper’s Tax. Its purpose is to support initiatives that increase tourism, attract visitors from outside Cass County, generate overnight stays, and strengthen the local economy. A visitor is an individual who travels from outside Cass County for leisure, recreation, entertainment, business, meetings, sporting events, cultural activities, shopping, dining, or other tourism-related purposes.
The purpose of the grant program is to promote the development and growth of tourism initiatives. While existing projects are eligible to apply, priority will be given to new projects, significant expansions of current projects, or initiatives that demonstrate a substantial impact on tourism and promote Cass County as a destination. The goal is to create a measurable economic impact on local businesses, attractions, restaurants, lodging providers, and communities.
Grant awards will be evaluated based on anticipated return on investment, visitor attraction potential, economic impact, and alignment with the goals of the Cass County Visitors Bureau. The program encourages marketing and development of events that showcase community pride and promote positive tourism. Applications should demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Attract visitors from outside Cass County
- Increase overnight stays in Cass County
- Generate visitor spending at local businesses
- Promote Cass County as a tourism destination
- Enhance tourism amenities and visitor experiences
- Create long-term tourism assets
- Demonstrate measurable economic and community impact
- Generate positive media exposure
- Encourage repeat visitation
- Demonstrate strong marketing and promotional efforts
- Enhance the quality and sustainability of the event
- Leverage partnerships, sponsorships, and other funding sources
Funding Opportunities & Applications
Event Sponsorships
The goal of Event Sponsorship program is to develop and promote events that enhance the visitor experience and highlight Cass County in a positive light. The Event Sponsorship Grant helps support festivals, special events, sports tournaments, conventions, and community celebrations that draw visitors to Cass County and boost our local economy. We aim to grow events that appeal to travelers from outside the county, encourage them to stay longer, and showcase Cass County as a great destination. These events should focus on those that engage regional or statewide audiences, encourage tourism-related spending, and provide clear benefits to local businesses, attractions, restaurants, lodging providers, and the community
Grant funding can be used for marketing, entertainment, venue expenses, and event operations.
Examples of Eligible Expenses include:
- Festivals
- Concerts
- Sporting tournaments
- Cultural events
- Conferences
- Community celebrations
Grant Award Range: $500 – $5,000
Please email completed application to info@visit-casscounty.com by 5 p.m. on the deadline listed above
Promotions & Advertising Grants
The primary purpose of the Promotions & Advertising Grant is to attract visitors from outside Cass County by supporting strategic marketing initiatives that promote the county as a tourism destination. These grants assist organizations, businesses, attractions, and event organizers in increasing awareness of Cass County’s attractions, events, experiences, and amenities through targeted advertising and destination marketing campaigns.
The CCVB encourages the use of a variety of marketing channels to effectively reach regional, statewide, and other visitor markets. While marketing efforts may also increase awareness among local residents, grant-funded activities should primarily focus on attracting visitors from outside Cass County and generating tourism-related travel and spending.
Examples of eligible marketing activities include regional print advertising, digital advertising, social media campaigns, radio and television advertising, outdoor advertising, tourism publications, visitor guides, brochures, and other destination marketing initiatives.
Examples of Eligible Expenses include:
- Digital advertising
- Radio advertising
- Regional print advertising
- Tourism publications
- Brochures and visitor guides
- Social media campaigns
Grant Award Range: $500 – $5,000
Please email completed application to info@visit-casscounty.com by 5 p.m. on the deadline listed above.
Destination Enhancement Grants
The primary purpose of the Destination Enhancement Grant is to support small-scale projects that enhance Cass County’s appeal to visitors while improving residents’ quality of life. This grant assists organizations, tourism-related businesses, local governments, and nonprofit entities in implementing initiatives that strengthen tourism assets, enhance visitor experiences, and promote Cass County as a travel destination.
Eligible projects for funding include a variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing tourism and visitor experiences. These may include placemaking efforts, the development of visitor amenities, improvements to signage, beautification projects, and other small-scale enhancements designed to enhance the visitor experience and encourage tourism. Grant funds can be used for initiatives focused on tourism development, visitor amenities, beautification, wayfinding enhancements, destination features, and marketing efforts. Overall, these projects aim to encourage visitation and stimulate tourism activity in Cass County.
Eligible projects must demonstrate the ability to attract visitors from outside Cass County, enhance the visitor experience, raise awareness of local attractions and amenities, and support the county’s economic vitality. Preference will be given to projects that offer visible, community-oriented enhancements and create lasting benefits for both visitors and residents.
Examples of Eligible Expenses include:
- Trail amenities and trailhead improvements
- Wayfinding and directional signage
- Small-scale improvements to tourism-related facilities
- Development and enhancement of visitor attractions and features
- Visitor information kiosks and welcome features
- Marketing initiatives directly tied to tourism development projects
- Accessibility improvements for visitors
- Visitor seating, bike racks, and gathering spaces
Grant Award Range: $500 – $5,000
Please email completed application to info@visit-casscounty.com by 5 p.m. on the deadline listed above.
Ineligible Grant Expenses
The following expenses are ineligible for all CCVB grant types.
- Alcohol purchases
- Capital purchases not directly related to the event
- Charitable donations
- Expenses incurred before grant approval
- Fundraising activities, including merchandise for resale
- Marketing directed primarily to Cass County residents
- Organizational operating expenses, such as salaries and employee benefits, utility expenses, rent, etc.
- Political, lobbying, or religious activities
- Purchase of land or buildings
- Yard signs and T-shirts
Qualifying Applicants
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, government entities, municipalities, and tourism-related businesses. All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be located in Cass County
- Be current on all taxes and regulatory filings
- Have no outstanding reporting requirements from previous CCVB grants
- Demonstrate the organizational capacity to complete the proposed project
Grant Guidelines & Requirements
Projects are required to demonstrate a clear, measurable benefit to the tourism sector and specifically attract visitors from beyond Cass County. Preference will be given to initiatives that effectively highlight the potential for overnight stays, engage in regional marketing efforts, promote local destinations, and foster partnerships among multiple organizations. By focusing on these criteria, we will enhance the overall appeal of Cass County as a travel destination.
All grant applications must be completed in full and typed using the Grant Application PDF Form (link provided below). Applications shall be submitted electronically in PDF format through the Cass County Visitors Bureau grant portal or designated email address. The CCVB may request additional documentation.
Applications are reviewed and approved by the Cass County Visitors Board (CCVB). The board has the discretion to deny, fully fund, or partially fund any request, and all funding decisions are final. Furthermore, the board is not required to utilize the entire allocated grant budget each year. The Board of Directors will adhere to the CCVB Conflict of Interest policy, disclose any relationships with applicants, and recuse themselves when necessary. Applicants must disclose any financial or organizational relationships with members of the CCVB Board of Directors.
Expenses incurred before written grant approval are not eligible for reimbursement.
The CCVB will notify all applicants of their decision.
The project or event must be completed within the grant program year. Awards do not carry over from year to year.
Grants will be awarded to events and projects that attract visitors from outside Cass County, generate hotel room bookings, and have a positive economic impact on surrounding businesses and attractions.
Applicants may apply for funding for the same festival, event, meeting, seminar, convention, marketing project, or product development for up to 3 consecutive years. After receiving funding for the same project for three consecutive years, applicants must demonstrate significant growth, expansion, or increased tourism impact to remain eligible for future funding.
Any major changes to the project after approval must be reported to the CCVB and may require full reconsideration of the application.
The Cass County Visitors Bureau reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the grant program at any time and to approve, partially fund, or deny any application at its sole discretion.
Grant awards are contingent upon annual appropriations and available funding. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Cass County Visitors Bureau outlining approved project activities, reporting requirements, reimbursement procedures, and performance expectations.
Marketing Requirements
All funded projects must:
- Acknowledge support from the Cass County Visitor Bureau
- Provide copies of promotional materials upon request
- Marketing materials utilizing the CCVB logo must comply with CCVB branding guidelines. CCVB reserves the right to review materials upon request
- Grant recipients will promote Cass County activities by placing a link to the CCVB website on the project/event’s website or social media pages
- Grant recipients are encouraged to follow and share CCVB social media content to help promote Cass County tourism.
Application Requirements
Applications must include:
- Completed application form, including project description
- Budgets must identify all project revenues, grant funds requested, matching funds, sponsorships, donations, and other anticipated funding sources.
- Marketing plan
- Tourism impact estimates
- Timeline
- Supporting documentation
Grant Award Limits
Applicants may receive:
- Up to two Event Sponsorship Grants per calendar year
- Multiple Promotions and Advertising Grants as funding allows
- One Destination Enhancement Grant per calendar year
Evaluation Criteria
All grant applications will be evaluated based on specific criteria that promote tourism development, events, marketing, and measurable visitor impact. The following criteria define tourism impact estimates:
- Estimated attendance
- Estimated non-local attendance
- Estimated overnight visitors
- Estimated hotel room nights
- Estimated visitor spending
- Target market area
Additional consideration may be given to projects that occur during off-peak tourism periods, create new tourism experiences, involve regional partnerships, or leverage significant matching funds. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 70 points to be considered. The CCVB may decide to award less funding than the amount requested. Those receiving partial funding may need to revise their project budgets and scopes before a grant agreement is executed. Please note that meeting the minimum score does not guarantee funding.
| Criteria | Points |
| Visitor Attraction Potential | 25 |
| Overnight Stay Generation | 20 |
| Economic Impact | 20 |
| Marketing & Promotion Plan | 15 |
| Organizational Capacity | 10 |
| Project Readiness & Feasibility | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Reimbursement Process
All grants shall be awarded on a reimbursement basis unless otherwise approved by the Board. Vendor invoices with supporting documentation may be paid directly by CCVB.
All copies of paid invoices, separate copies of checks or receipts with the indicated check numbers, promotional and marketing materials, and the post-event evaluation form must be submitted within 60 days of the event. Please note that if materials are not submitted within this 60-day timeframe, CCVB reserves the right to reduce the reimbursement amount to the corresponding organization. The CCVB reserves the right to request additional documentation necessary to verify eligible expenses or project outcomes prior to reimbursement.
Required Documentation
Recipients must submit:
- Financial Summary
- Proof of payment, including paid invoices, canceled checks, receipts, credit card statements, or other acceptable documentation.
- Post-event evaluation and project report
- Attendance
- Visitor Origin
- Overnight Stays
- Estimates of overnight stays may be supported through registration data, visitor surveys, lodging partner reports, ticket sales zip code analysis, historical attendance data, or other reasonable methods.
- Economic Impact
- Marketing Results
- Project Evaluation Narrative
- Photographs or promotional materials
Reimbursement Timeline
- Requests must be submitted within 60 days of project completion.
- Reimbursement payments will generally be processed within 60 days following approval of required documentation.
Failure to Comply
Failure to complete the project, submit required reports, or provide adequate documentation may result in reduction or forfeiture of grant funds and may affect future funding eligibility.
For more information, please contact the Cass County Visitors Bureau by emailing info@visit-casscounty.com.