HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.3a Explore MN 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant Memo
TO: Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
FROM: Julie Prior-Miller, Marketing and Communications Specialist
DATE: November 22, 2022
RE: Explore Minnesota 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant Opportunity
Background
The 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant Program provides matching funds to individual and
collaborative, non-profit Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO’s) and other organizations
for the purpose of marketing and promotion of travel for the economic benefit of their
communities. This program will work in tandem with Explore Minnesota’s primary tourism
marketing initiatives while aligning with the agency’s current strategic objectives.
Discussion
Explore Minnesota is offering a grant of up to $20,000 at a 1:1 cash match requirement. Eligible
expenses for this grant include the marketing of events in or out-of-state, meetings, conventions,
sports and groups marketing (in and out-of-state) as well as diversity and inclusion and/or
accessibility. Items that qualify for this grant in our existing budget include social media
advertising, marketing online, print advertising, photos, and vendor rental spaces. In total,
approximately $14,000 in the existing 2023 budget can be accounted for in this grant submittal
to cover the matching funds.
Progress reports must be returned to Explore Minnesota by March 31, 2023. Reconciliation and
reimbursement requests can be submitted at any time during the program by no later than
August 15, 2023 and Explore Minnesota is allowed 30 days for reconciliation, processing, and
receipt of funds.
The expenses related to this grant will be reflected in the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2023. The
reimbursement from the grant, if approved, will be applied to the 3rd quarter revenue of the
Visitor’s Bureau in 2023.
Recommendation
1. Approve the submission of grant application materials from the CGCVB to Explore MN for
the opportunity to receive $14,000 through the 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant.
2. Should the CGCVB receive the allotted amount for the grant, approve the signing of a
$1,600 contract with the St. Paul Saints for the securing the date for Cottage Grove
Community Night on June 10, 2023 with an increased sponsorship level package.
Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
November 22, 2022
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Attachments
1. Explore MN 2023 Tourism Grant Application.
2. Discover Cottage Grove Partnership Agreement with the St. Paul Saints.