Grants For Tourism Businesses in Cumberland County
Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) is the official Destination Marketing Organization serving Cumberland County. CAEDC’s tourism efforts exist to generate visitor volume and spending by attracting business and leisure visitors, meetings or conventions and events to Cumberland Valley. CAEDC promotes Cumberland Valley as a tourist destination, attracts visitors to the area, enhances the visitor’s experience, and encourages and promotes overnight stays. Destination marketing efforts are funded by a county lodging tax that is assessed on each overnight stay in Cumberland Valley.
Since 2010, CAEDC has offered a variety of grant opportunities to Cumberland County partners to increase visitation to Cumberland Valley or enhance the visitor experience in a measurable way. There are currently three tourism-specific grant programs available.
Tourism Product Development Grant
Eligible applicants can apply for $25,000 – $250,000 in grant funding for soft product development and asset product development projects that increase visitation to Cumberland Valley or enhance the visitor experience in a measurable way. Organizations can only have one open Tourism Product Development Grant OR one open Tourism Recovery Grant at a time.
Destination Sales Grant
Eligible applicants can apply for $10,000 – $100,000 in grant funding for event expenses including bid fees, facility and shuttle rentals, and marketing and advertising to support overnight group travel to Cumberland Valley.
Tourism Recovery Grant
Eligible applicants can apply for $2,500 – $10,000 in grant funding for purchase of equipment, marketing or advertising to new audiences, development of new experiences or deferred maintenance projects that maintain or increase the number of products, experiences and services that draw overnight visitors to Cumberland Valley. Organizations can only have one open Tourism Product Development Grant OR one open Tourism Recovery Grant at a time.
Other Funding and Financing Opportunities
CAEDC offers a selection of financing programs, funding solutions and incentives for all types of businesses. Tourism partners could also be eligible for the Tourism Infrastructure Loan Fund.
Tourism Grant Awards
Since 2010, CAEDC has awarded over $2.3 million to over 200 tourism grant projects.
Tourism Grant Awards