Riverside Tourism Grants

The Riverside Tourism Enhancement Grant Program is the primary method for organizations to receive funding from the City of Riverside Tourism Fund.  Grants are available to non-profit organizations or government divisions to start up or expand a tourism-related event or program.  Eligible initiatives will:

• Increase: the number of first-time visitors to Riverside; the number of return visitors to Riverside; and the length of visitor stays
• Generate significant research-based return-on-investment for Riverside’s residents and businesses
• Expand the visiting public’s awareness of Riverside’s unique history, events, activities and amenities

All events funded through the grant program must take place in Riverside.

Grant Process

• Submit a completed certification packet by 5 p.m. on August 31, 2009.
• If certified by City staff and the Tourism Grant Committee, the applicant will be invited to complete the Grant Application, which is due by 12 p.m. on October 30, 2009.
• The Tourism Grant Committee will review each application and score it on a 100-point scale.  An application must receive a score of 70 points or more to be considered for approval.
• The Tourism Grant Committee will make a funding recommendation on each application to the Tourism Commission, who will then review the recommendations and make its own recommendation to the Board of Aldermen.
• The Board of Aldermen will review the Tourism Commission recommendations and make final funding decisions at the last regular meeting in December.
• Funds will be available January 1, 2010 to applicants for reimbursement.

For more information, the Tourism Grant Overview packet, Certification Packet and Grant Application are available in the Document Center on the right side of the page.

Other Funding Opportunities
Limited funds are available to both non-profit and private organizations outside of the grant process.  For more information on receiving funding for your event or project, contact Meredith Hauck, Communications/External Affairs Coordinator, at 816-741-3993 or mhauck@riversidemo.com.