MCVB Grant Program Overview
Welcome to the 2012 Middletown Convention & Visitors Bureau Grant Program.
A portion of the MCVB annual budget is set aside to award grants to non-profit and for-profit organizations presenting special events and projects that will bring visitors to Middletown. Grants are to be used for expenses related to marketing, promotion and advertising, a significant portion of which will be targeted to potential participants outside the immediate Middletown area (5 or more miles outside Middletown). Occasionally, grants may be considered for capital projects that would enhance and expand the CVB mission to attract visitors to Middletown.
Primary consideration will be given grant requests which:
- Attract overnight visitors who will stay in Middletown hotels and thus increase the city’s tax base by generating more bed tax revenue.
- Attract a larger number of visitors.
- Increase the number of nonresident visitors to a Middletown event.
- Have a greater economic impact to the community by raising the potential for visitors to spend money locally on shopping, gas and other expenditures.
- Have multiple sources of support. That is, the applicant expects funding from several sources besides Middletown CVB.
- Offer multiple days of the same event or a series of events.
- Have proven organizational value: the applicant group has a history of sound leadership and a competent, active board.
- Has Capital Improvement Potential – likelihood that the event will leave behind long-term improvements in community assets that encourage tourism.
Guidelines
Funds should be requested primarily for marketing, public relations, hospitality, promotion and advertising expenses or capital projects that would, when used, increase tourism in Middletown.
- Applicants may submit only one grant request per funding cycle. There is one funding cycle per year – grant requests are due at the end of business on April 10, 2012.
- Unless approved as a multi-year project, projects funded through Middletown CVB must be completed within one year from the grant award date.
- Each grant recipient must submit a completed Economic Impact Report (form provided) within 30 days from the project’s end and before a new grant request will be considered.
- We strongly encourage that support materials include a report showing expected economic impact within Middletown; In particular, expectations should include economic impact on Middletown hotels and motels.
- Tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations are eligible for Middletown CVB grants and are given priority. However, we will consider grants to for-profit organizations.
- Applications may include relevant support materials, e.g. one page history, list of board members, annual budget and current financial reports. These materials should be mailed separately from the online application.
- Receiving a grant from Middletown CVB for one event does not guarantee funding for future activities, nor does a previous grant give any organization priority in future funding
Disqualifiers
- Organization missed deadline for completed application..
- Organization failed to submit Economic Impact Report from previous year, after having received a grant.
- Lack of proper documentation to explain how grant money was spent.
- Organization failed to name Middletown CVB as a sponsor on all advertising.
- Organization redirected grant money without Middletown CVB Board permission.
Credit and Publicity Responsibilities
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It is the responsibility of all organizations and individuals that receive funding through the Middletown CVB to demonstrate the public value of your event or program by making your audience aware that your event, program or project is supported by public tax dollars. You must recognize the Middletown CVB on all your printed material, news releases, programs, signage or other means. (Logo and/or “Project supported in part by Middletown Convention and Visitor Bureau:) as a sponsor. Failure to do so may require a reimbursement of any grant money received and/or may result in the exclusion from further grants for a period of one year.
NOTE: Redirecting grant money must have prior approval from the Middletown CVB Board. Misdirected funds from the grant will result in denial of future grant requests and may require the applicant to return the grant.
Grant Process
- Complete the online application and submit support materials to: Middletown Convention & Visitors Bureau, 8756 Union Centre Boulevard, West Chester, OH 45069.
- Grant applicants may be invited to meet briefly with Middletown CVB during the grant approval process.
- A letter or email, listing the approved grants will be sent to all applicants once the process is completed.
- Once grants are approved, a check for the full amount will be mailed to each recipient organization.
- Each organization receiving Middletown CVB grant money must give recognition to Middletown CVB in all news releases, programs, signage or other means. (Logo and/or “Project supported in part by the Middletown Convention and Visitors Bureau”)
- An Economic Impact Report must be submitted within 30 days of the conclusion of your event. If an organization hosts a series of events, the Economic Impact Report must be submitted one month prior to the new grant cycle or the last business day of February. The Economic Impact Report form will be sent directly to the grant recipients following the distribution of the grant funds. If an organization hosts a series of events, the Economic Impact Report must be submitted one month prior to the new grant cycle or the last business day of February. It is not the responsibility of the Middletown CVB to contact or remind organizations of these deadlines. If the Economic Impact Report is not turned in on time, the organization will not be considered for the next grant cycle.
- PLEASE NOTE 2012 ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT FORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER THE 2012 GRANTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED
2012 Grant Application - Currently unavailable, will be released 2/10/12
Please click here to begin the 2012 MCVB Grant Application