The Cass County Tourism Committee offers two annual grants for nonprofit organizations to promote tourism within the county: the Marketing Grant and the Capital Improvement Grant. These grants aim to increase visitor engagement and improve local attractions, funded by the county’s lodging tax. Applications for both grants are due by January 31 each year, and applicants must submit a complete application form along with any required attachments via email to the Cass County Tourism Director. The Committee reviews applications, and final approval is given by the County Commissioners.

The Marketing Grant provides funding to promote events, activities, or general marketing for public and nonprofit attractions in Cass County. Eligible applicants can request up to $2,500, with the program covering 75% of approved expenses and the organization responsible for the remaining 25%. Marketing initiatives that qualify include event promotion, digital marketing, and other activities designed to attract visitors. Only one Marketing Grant is allowed per applicant annually, and the project must be completed by the end of the calendar year. Upon completion, a report detailing project expenses must be submitted to receive reimbursement, which is disbursed after all expenditures are documented. Grantees are required to acknowledge the support of Cass County Tourism in their promotional materials.

The Capital Improvement Grant focuses on projects that enhance physical infrastructure at tourist attractions, such as building new structures, preserving existing sites, or installing new equipment to improve visitor capacity or experience. This grant also requires a 50% match from the applicant, of which up to 25% can include in-kind contributions like volunteer labor. Eligible projects must expand or create attractions open to the public that are educational, cultural, historical, artistic, or recreational in nature. To qualify, an organization must complete the Intent to Apply process, during which the Tourism Committee reviews the project for alignment with grant criteria and conducts a site inspection. Projects must be completed by October 31 of the following year, with extension requests considered if submitted in writing before the deadline. A final report and expense documentation are required by November 30 to qualify for reimbursement.

Eligible applicants for both grants must be nonprofit organizations, designated as 501(c)(3) or similar, and must demonstrate that their primary purpose is to encourage tourism in Cass County. Priority for the Marketing Grant is given to events that attract visitors from outside the immediate area, while the Capital Improvement Grant emphasizes projects that add lasting value to county attractions. For either grant, recipients must submit a final report with updated project information and documented expenses, and grant payments are only made upon approval of these documents by the Tourism Committee.

All funded projects are required to include the verbiage “Funded in part by Cass County Tourism – visitcasscounty.com” on relevant materials or in permanent signage at the project site. Grantees are responsible for obtaining all necessary local or state permits before starting the project. Notification of grant awards is provided through email or standard mail after final approval by the County Commissioners, and awardees must sign a Grant Agreement to formally accept funding and associated responsibilities.

The Cass County Tourism Committee encourages applicants to contact the Tourism Director with any questions regarding the application process or eligibility requirements. Clear adherence to all guidelines and deadlines is essential for consideration, as late submissions will not be accepted.