Tourism Funds

Tourism Fund Distribution Guidelines

The Finance and Economic Development Committee has established dates for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2019 to 2020 Tourism Fund Application process. An application request form is below. Applications can be emailed to the City Clerk or mailed to:

116 East Market Street
Attention Deputy City Clerk Heather Klueter
Troy, IL 62294

Consistent with prior years, the Economic Development Committee intends to award conservatively with the goal of maintaining a strong balance in the tourism fund for future needs.

Key Dates

  • February 1, 2019: Application Period Begins
  • February 28, 2019: Application period ends-due in to City Clerk by 4:30 p.m.
  • March 4, 2019: Finance and Economic Development Committee will meet*
  • March 18, 2019: Economic Development Committee will present recommendation to the City Council for approval/rejection.

*Each applicant is encouraged to attend the March 4, 2019 meeting at 6:00 p.m. to answer any questions the Finance and Economic Development Committee have.

Attached:

  • Tourism Fund Distribution Guidelines (as approved January 15, 2015)
  • Application Request Form

Dan Jackson
Finance and Economic Development Committee Chair

TOURISM FUND DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES

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Background: 

  • Section 5 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/8-3-14) authorizes the City of Troy toward monies to promote "tourism and conventions within that municipality or otherwise to attract nonresident overnight visitors to the municipality".
  • The revenue source of the monies referenced above is generated solely from local hotel/motel tax which is collected by the State and then distributed to the City of Troy (referenced by the City as Tourism Fund).

Guiding Principles:

  • The Economic Development Committee (the Committee) will request applications for event funding from the community on a yearly basis. Funds are to be used in the year they were awarded. Please use the application template when submitting your application.
  • The Committee intends not to exceed awarding monies above and beyond those monies already received to date. This ensures that we are not dependent upon future payments from the State for current year promised distributions.
  • The Committee may choose to distribute only a portion of the monies requested for a specific event as required.
  • The Committee will encourage revenue generating events (ex: craft fair, homecoming) to contribute a portion of the event cost themselves so the event is not solely funded by the City.
  • The Committee will consider funding non-revenue generating events (ex: Santa's village, 4th of July fireworks, City wide garage sale) at 100% City funded.
  • The Committee will accept applications for one-to-many events for any given applicant.
  • The Committee intends to use discretion when awarding monies and requests that the applicant provide responses to the Applicant Evaluation Criteria (see below) which will be used as a main source for evaluation.

Applicant Evaluation Criteria:

  • Event description and date
  • Describe other sources of funding for the event if exist.
  • Event projected attendance. If a repeating event, please list the attendance counts from prior years (estimates accepted.
  • Event location.
  • Itemized description of how monies will be used.

 Known Exclusions (but not limited to):

  • Costs not directly related to the event for which monies are being requested (ex: association or organizational dues, yearly insurance premiums, yearly or monthly rent)
  • Event solely promoting for-profit entities
  • Salaries

Tourism Application

2019 to 2020 Tourism Fund Distribution Guidelines (PDF)

2019 to 2020 Finance and Economic Development Announcement (PDF)

2019 to 2020 Tourism Fund Distribution Guidelines/Supplemental Request Form (PDF)