Tourism Marketing Grant Program Application Step 1 of 2 50% 2026 Tourism Grant Program Guidelines Eligibility Applicants must be registered nonprofits Projects or events must take place within Gilmer County and promote Gilmer County as a preferred visitor destination and boost overnight stays All projects must be completed by December 31, 2026 Application Applications will only be accepted via the application form on the Gilmer Chamber website Applications will only be reviewed if all required documentation is included Peak Visitor Periods Applications will not be considered for funding if the event occurs during the following: Memorial Day Weekend Independence Day Weekend Labor Day Weekend Thanksgiving Weekend Christmas Week Eligible Expenses Projects/events funded by this grant must: Target an audience located more than 50 miles outside of Gilmer County Use all awarded funds for marketing efforts, including but not limited to: Paid social media or other digital advertising Flyers, billboards, and other out-of-home placements Television, podcast, radio, and streaming ads Recognize Gilmer Chamber’s tourism entity, Pick Ellijay, as an event sponsor at a level equal to the amount of funds awarded. For example, if a project is awarded $2,000 and that amount is equivalent to a gold-level sponsor, the project should list Pick Ellijay as a gold-level sponsor. Feature the Pick Ellijay logo on all promotional materials. Online material must include a link to PickEllijay.com. Ineligible Expenses Examples of ineligible expenses include but are not limited to: Administrative and operational costs Private or members-only events Advertising that primarily reaches Gilmer County and its residents Additional non-marketing expenses Fees paid to third-party vendors, consultants, or professional services Mileage or gas expenses due to the distribution of materials Items for resale and gift cards Food or alcoholic beverages Funding Applicants can request up to $2,500 per event application. Higher amounts may be considered. Funds will be disbursed as reimbursement for the approved expenses upon completion of the event. To be eligible for reimbursement, a completed post-event report must be submitted and approved within 60 days of event completion. (See Post Event Reporting) Applications may not receive grant funding for the same event from other organizations. Any funds granted will be subject to audit. Evaluation Applications will be evaluated by the Chamber’s Tourism Marketing Grant Committee, which includes representatives from the city of Ellijay, city of East Ellijay, and Gilmer County. Applications will be assessed to confirm eligibility for funding. Each application will be evaluated using the Grant Review Score Sheet according to the criteria below: Generation of overnight stays during non-peak periods Visitor appeal and event uniqueness Event description, goals, and public health/safety plan Marketing and branding Post-Event Reporting Applicants must submit a post-event report within 60 days of the event’s completion. Failure to do so may result in disqualification from future support. The post-event report should include the following: Invoices for eligible expenses, along with proof of payment such as cleared checks or itemized credit card receipts. Copies of marketing or advertising materials and social media showing approved logo usage. Before starting your application, please agree to the following:(Required) I have read and understood the 2026 Tourism Grant Program GuidelinesNeed more time to review? Visit www.gilmerchamber.com/grants Organization InformationOrganization Name(Required)EIN(Required)Organization Website Organization Contact(Required) First Last Mailing Address(Required) Street Address City State AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific ZIP Code Phone(Required)Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Event SummaryEvent Name(Required)Event Start Date(Required) MM slash DD slash YYYY Event Start Time(Required) Hours : Minutes AM PM AM/PM Event End Date(Required) MM slash DD slash YYYY Event End Time(Required) Hours : Minutes AM PM AM/PM Total Expected Event Attendance(Required)Out of Town Visitors, Gilmer County Residents, Vendors/Exhibitors, Participants, and StaffEvent Location(Required)Event Description(Required)Event Goals(Required)Include clear and measurable goals to attract overnight visitors and the anticipated impact on tourism in Gilmer County.Event Public Health & Safety Plan:(Required)Has this event received funds from the Tourism Grant Program in the past?(Required) Yes No Name and date of the project/event that previously received funding:(Required)Amount of Grant Funding Requested?(Required)Marketing BudgetPlease list event marketing expenses below, leave blank if not applicable.BannersBillboardsBrochuresDigital AdversitingMagazineNewspaperPostersRadioSocial MediaTelevisionWebsiteTotal:Marketing and BrandingDescribe the event marketing planIMPORTANT NOTE: All promotional materials must feature the Pick Ellijay logo. Online materials should also include a link to the PickEllijay.com website. Before production, a draft or design proof of these materials must be submitted for approval. Upload all proofs for promotional materials below: Drop files here or Select files Max. file size: 50 MB. SignatureSigned by(Required) First Last TitleSignature(Required)By submitting this application, the applicant agrees and understands the following:(Required) A post-event report should be submitted within 60 days of event completion.Post Event Reporting should include marketing budget, invoices for eligible expenses, copy of proof of payments to match invoices, visitor tracking documentation, and copies of pre-approved marketing or advertising materials. Once the Post Event Report is reviewed and approved by the Tourism Marketing Grant Committee, funds will be distributed via a reimbursement check.
