Tourism Grant Program

Overview

The Gilmer Chamber Tourism Grant Program was established under O.C.G.A § 48-13-51(b). This program is administered by the Gilmer Chamber and its designated advisory group, the Tourism Grant Committee. The Committee includes Chamber staff, representatives from Ellijay, East Ellijay, and County Commissioners. The Chamber oversees the funds collected from transient lodging taxes (TLT) assessed to hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments in the City of Ellijay, the City of East Ellijay, and Gilmer County.

These funds are awarded via the Tourism Grant Program (TGP), which is intended to support marketing expenses for local nonprofits that produce events and programs designed to attract overnight visitors to Gilmer County.

By following these guidelines, applicants can ensure that their application for the Tourism Grant is complete and meets all necessary requirements. For additional questions, please contact Gilmer Chamber Communications Manager, Nohemi Reynoso, at nohemir@gilmerchamber.com or 706-635-7400.

2024 Grant Cycle Timeline

ProcessDate
Applications AvailableAugust 12, 2024
Application DeadlineSeptember 30, 2024
Complete Post-Event Report60 Days After Event Completion
Funds Sent To ApplicantFollowing Approval of Post-Event Report

2024 Peak Visitor Periods

Funding will not be considered for events that occur during the following Peak Visitor Periods:

DateEvent
August 31 – September 1, 2024Labor Day Weekend
November 28 – December 1, 2024Thanksgiving Weekend
December 22 – 28, 2024Christmas Week

Forms & Resources

We appreciate your interest in applying for funding through the Tourism Grant Program. To assist you in the application process, we have provided several helpful forms and resources for your reference. Please take the time to review them carefully before beginning your application. View and download them below:

2024 Tourism Grant Program Overview and GuidelinesDownload
Quick Reference GuideDownload
W-9 FormDownload
Grant Proposal Score SheetDownload
Post Event Report ChecklistDownload
Marketing ToolkitDownload
Sample Event BudgetDownload
Event Budget FormDownload
Sample Event Marketing BudgetDownload
Event Marketing Budget FormDownload
Visitor Tracking FormDownload
Visitor Tracking SurveyDownload

Logos

To comply with Grant Guidelines, the Pick Ellijay logo and PickEllijay.com URL must be included in all grant-funded promotional materials (printed and online). View and download the available Pick Ellijay logos by following the link below.

Logos for grant recipients

Application

Ready to apply? The 2024 Tourism Grant Application is available until September 30, 2024. Before starting your application, we recommend thoroughly reviewing our Forms & Resources. Click the link below to apply!

Application now closed

Post-Event Report

As outlined in the Tourism Grant Guidelines, a post-event report must be submitted within 60 days of event completion. Please note that funds will be reimbursed for eligible expenses only after the post-event report has been reviewed and approved.

Submit post-event report

Please Note: Grant funds will be distributed in priority order of approval of grant applications. Funds will be disbursed as revenue from hotel/motel tax is received by the County. Therefore, there might be a brief delay between when applicants are notified of their grant awards and when funds are distributed. The Gilmer Chamber and the Tourism Grant Committee are dedicated to supporting local events through our grant programs but reserve the right to reject applications if they do not adhere to the application guidelines, fail to meet eligibility requirements, or if the requested costs are deemed excessive for the completion of the project.