Download the Tourism Marketing Grant Application
If you are involved with an event, convention, tournament or facility that attracts visitors to Mason City, you are eligible to receive FREE money through the Visit Mason City Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant Program! Download the grant application by clicking here.
Tourism Marketing Grant Program Guidelines:
The purpose of the Visit Mason City Tourism Marketing Grant is to assist in marketing projects for events, tournaments, conventions, activities, and facilities that drive tourism activity to Mason City and the North Iowa region.
Application Deadlines / Format - These are received in the office dates/times, not postmark dates.
Round 1: by 4 pm on Oct. 2, 2013 for marketing project completed Oct. 1, 2013– Oct. 1, 2014
Round 2: by 4 pm on Feb. 5, 2014 for marketing project completed Feb. 1, 2014– Oct. 1, 2014
A total of 5 copies of the completed application and all supporting materials must be submitted. Application must be typed and delivered or mailed to:
Visit Mason City
2021 Fourth Street Southwest
Mason City, IA 50401
Eligible Projects & Use of Funding
Eligible marketing project expenses include design, production, and placement costs for brochures, fliers, posters, direct mail pieces, registration materials, videos, websites, print ads, radio ads, television ads, and off site signage that attract visitors. In addition, shuttle service for local tours, transportation between convention facilities, welcome reception food / non-alcoholic beverages for tourists are eligible grant expenses. Marketing projects must have a focus outside a 90-mile radius of Mason City. Quoted bids or estimates must be attached. Grants are paid as reimbursements to the contact organization upon completion of the marketing project. Grant recipients are encouraged to use a Mason City vendor if possible.
Maximum Grants / Cash Match
Grants are limited to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs or $1,500 (whichever is lowest) with a required cash match of at least 50%.
Tagline / Logo Requirements
All awarded tourism market projects, except IDOT signage must include the Visit Mason City logo noted below or the tagline “Sponsored in part by Visit Mason City / www.VisitMasonCityIowa.com” with a link from the recipient’s website (if applicable) to www.VisitMasonCityIowa.com.
Either of the following logos can be downloaded and used on your projects. Simply point to the logo or the link of the graphic you want and use your right mouse click to do a "Save Picture As...." or "Save Target As..." and download to your hard drive.
Notification
Applicants will be notified 30 days after the grant deadline regarding their funding status.
Application Assistance
Visit Mason City staff can provide application assistance by appointment during Mon. – Fri. 8 am to 4:30 pm. To make an appointment, contact Visit Mason City at cvb@VisitMasonCityIowa.com or 641-422-1663 / 800-423-5724. Appointments must occur three business days before the grant deadline. Applications received three business days before the grant deadline will not receive staff application assistance. Incomplete applications will be ineligible.
Evaluation Criteria
- Priority given to projects that focus on attracting visitors to town versus projects that focus on visitors once they have already arrived.
- Number of Visitors attracted outside 90-mile radius of Mason City by marketing project.
- Number of lodging rooms generated by marketing project.
- Distribution Plan.
- Held during the "off season" - during the months of Sept - May for signage attract visitors during "off season".
- Held during the week - Mon. - Thurs. for signage attract visitors during the week.
