Houma CVB taking applications for ’14

The Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is accepting applications now through Sept. 3 for its 2014 Tourism Festivals Marketing Program matching funds grants of up to $10,000.

“In the past, we’ve had around a dozen festivals or tourism events that have applied for the grant,” said Houma CVB communications manager Kelly Gustafson. “This is the first year that we are funding festival sponsorships separate from meetings, conventions, sports tournaments and RV and motorcycle rallies

“The intent of the HACVB Tourism Festivals Marketing Matching Funds Program is to provide funds to assist with the marketing expenses for projects that increase the economic impact of tourism throughout Terrebonne Parish.”

The Voice of the Wetlands Festival, Houma Independence Celebration, Houmapalooza and the Rougarou Fest received funds from the program in the past.

The grant is open to Terrebonne Parish tourism events that will be hosted between Jan 1 through December 31, 2014. For guidelines and an application, call 868-2732 or email kelly.gustafson@houmatravel.com.

The program was once funded through the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government’s Tourism Recovery Event Sponsorship Program, which was funded by BP Tourism Mitigation Funds, and grants were awarded month by month. The program was evaluated, and changes were made to how the grants were funded and awarded.

“The grant cycle was changed to a once a year grant to better facilitate the program, as well as give the events proper time to plan and execute the marketing plans in a manner that will attract out of town visitation,” Gustafson said.

The program will now be funded by $50,000 from the Houma Area CVB’s annual operating budget. Grants will not exceed $10,000 per application.

The event must have matching funds already committed to the event.

The grants are also now specific for festivals and other tourism events, meaning the event must be a time-bound, non-continuous activity that attracts visitors from beyond a 50-mile radius of the event and must positively promote Terrebonne Parish as a tourism destination.

Complete and eligible applications received by the due date will be reviewed, ranked and recommended for funding based upon several criteria. Those standards include details of the event’s marketing plan, the event itself and the budget.

Entities eligible for the grant include: non-profit corporations registered with the corresponding Secretary of State in good standing with the registered state; a federal, state or local governmental entity; a state-recognized Native American nation or an accredited university, college or school.