Event Grant Program
Highlands County Tourist Development Council Grant Programs
Getting ready to host a spectacular event in the lush landscapes of Sebring, Avon Park or Lake Placid? Need a little boost to make it all happen? Look no further! At Visit Sebring, we’ve got your back with a range of grant programs designed just for events in the Highlands County area. Sounds exciting, right? Dive into our various funding programs and discover which one is the perfect fit for your event. And don’t forget – make sure you’re using the right application form for your event. Want a tip? We highly recommend chatting with our friendly TDC staff before you send in your funding request. We’re here to help, whether in person or over the phone. So why wait? Let’s make your event dreams a reality together!
For questions, please call (863) 402-6909.
Other Event Grant Funding Sources
Special Event Permit Information & Planning
High Impact Signature Events
For re-occurring, large-scale events staged in Highlands County between April and December that attract visitors from outside the county, generate significant overnight stays, and provide strong brand exposure for Visit Sebring. These events should encourage increased visitor spending, reinforce a positive image of the Sebring region, and leverage strategic out-of-county marketing to amplify the destination experience.
Criteria:
- Attendance Impact: At least 1,000 verified room nights, or at least 10,000 verified attendees with 30% or more from outside Highlands County
- Duration of Event: At least a two-day event with overnight component (either night or early morning)
- Funding Structure: Reimbursement-based grant funded at $20 per verified room night or $0.50 per verified attendee. Option for up to 60% of requested funds to be allocated to marketing, that being reimbursed based on the scoring of the marketing plan submitted with the application.
- Application period: Application are reviewed quarterly at TDC meetings. To be considered for maximum funding, applications should be submitted at least six (6) months prior to the event
- Special Consideration: Requests exceeding standard thresholds or involving extraordinary circumstances may require additional review and approval
New Events
For events new to the Highlands County market, held between April and December, and planning to remain in the Highlands County market for three (3) years, with the goal of increasing out-of-county attendance and overnight stays each year.
Criteria:
- Eligibility: Event must be new to Highlands County and planned to re-occur for three consecutive years
- Duration: A minimum two-day event with overnight component (either night or early morning)
- Pre-Application Meeting: Event organizer must meet with TDC staff (either in person or via phone) and discuss the event and their financial request.
- Plan: Requires submission of a marketing plan, and a business plan outlining how the event will increase out-of-county attendance and overnight stays each year
- Funding Structure: Reimbursement-based grant with base funding levels determined by application scoring, and additional funding based on room night projections and performance.
- Maximum base funding determined by application scoring: Year 1, up to $20,000 base funding; Year 2 & 3, up to $10,000 base funding per year.
- Request can include additional funding tied to projected room night generation, calculated at $20 per room night. Final reimbursement of this portion is based solely on actual, verified room nights generated.
- Application period: Application are reviewed quarterly at TDC meetings. To be considered for maximum funding, applications should be submitted at least six (6) months prior to the event
- Special Consideration: Requests exceeding standard thresholds or involving extraordinary circumstances may require additional review and approval
Sport or Special Events
For sporting events, special events, group meetings, or conferences staged in Highlands County between April and December that attract overnight visitors, generate visitor spending, and promote the Visit Sebring brand to audiences outside the county.
Criteria:
- Eligibility: Event must attract overnight visitors and generate a minimum of 100 verified room nights. Exclusive private events (e.g., weddings, family reunions, class reunions) are not eligible
- Attendance Impact: Event must generate at least 100 verified room nights
- Funding Structure: Reimburse-based grant of #20 per verified room night, up to a maximum of $20,000. Final reimbursement is based solely on actual, verified room nights generated.
- Application period: Application are reviewed quarterly at TDC meetings. To be considered for maximum funding, applications should be submitted at least six (6) months prior to the event
- Special Consideration: Requests exceeding standard thresholds or involving extraordinary circumstances may require additional review and approval
Facility Rental Fee Funding
For tourism-driving events staged at Highlands County–managed facilities between April and December that attract visitors from outside the county and generate overnight stays in Highlands County. This grant is intended to reduce facility rental costs for qualifying events that bring measurable tourism impact to the destination.
Criteria:
- Eligibility: Event must take place at a Highlands County–owned or managed facility, and must attract out-of-county participants. Exclusive private events (e.g., weddings, family reunions, birthday parties) are not eligible.
- Attendance Impact: Event must have a minimum of 100 actual participants (excluding spectators or traveling companions) with at least 51% of participants origination from outside of Highlands County.
- Duration of Event: At least a two-day event with overnight component (either night or early morning)
- Funding Structure: Maximum funding of up to $5,000. Funding will cover facility rental fees only, and be paid directly to the Highlands County Parks & Facilities Department only.
- Eligible Uses of Funds: Facility rental fees only for Highlands County–managed facilities. All other event-related expenses are the responsibility of the event organizer.
- Application period: Application are reviewed quarterly at TDC meetings. To be considered for maximum funding, applications should be submitted at least six (6) months prior to the event.
- Special Consideration: Requests exceeding standard thresholds or involving extraordinary circumstances may require additional review and approval.
TDC Event Support Without a Formal Grant
If you are an event planner, you do not necessarily have to submit a formal Event Grant for TDC assistance. Some events attract large numbers of day visitors with little to no overnight room night stays. These events have a positive effect in contributing to the vitality of the Sebring area and attractiveness to potential tourists. Therefore, the TDC may support these events, at discretion of TDC staff, that are open to the public through non-grant/non-monetary avenues, such as:
- Collateral fulfillment of area tourism information
- Visit Sebring promotional branded material fulfillment
- Request for Proposal (RFP) distribution
- Public relations support
- Photo/video support
- Social media/calendar/website listing
- Referrals to County/City departments
- Research data collection
- Consultation to grow events to attract overnight visitors
To submit your event for review, simply email your event information and details with at least one high-resolution promotional photo to the Visit Sebring office at info@visitsebring.com for consideration.