ESD announces application launch for Tourism Partner Sub-Awards Grant

Up to $14.25 million available through federal American Rescue Plan will support efforts of state's destination marketing organizations

√ Application portal and program guidelines available here

Empire State Development announced the application launch for the New York State EDA Tourism Partner Sub-Awards Grant program, designed to support the post-pandemic recovery of the state's travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. Up to $14.25 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funding will be competitively sub-awarded to the state's Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) for marketing projects that aim to attract visitors to New York by promoting tourism programs based on the Division of Tourism’s EDA areas of focus: outdoor recreation, international tourism, and travel trade including meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), amateur sports and group travel.

ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Under Gov. Hochul's leadership, and with the support from our colleagues in the federal government, New York state continues to rebuild and revitalize its tourism industry. Using funding awarded through an American Rescue Plan grant, ESD will support efforts by regional tourism partners to generate increased visitation and revenue in areas primed for growth, reviving this essential state sector."

A press release noted, :The program's goal is to positively impact New York state’s tourism industry by making strategic investments in programs and organizations that are working to generate economic growth for New York state and its vacation regions. Through the program's competitive grant process, ESD will ensure that funding is impact-driven and awarded projects are responsive to the program's intended focus. New York state is concentrating on sectors most in need of help, or areas representing the most promising opportunity for growth.”

Funding is open to New York state DMOs, and grant requests must equal or exceed $250,000. A DMO is defined as nonprofit organization that promotes a location as an attractive travel destination. DMOs can include, but are not limited to, tourist boards, tourism authorities, tourism offices, tourism promotion agencies, and convention and visitors' bureaus.

ESD Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "These competitive sub-awards to our DMO partners will, on a local and regional level, complement the work ‘I LOVE NY’ will be doing statewide in tourism segments that represent terrific opportunities for growth. Outdoor recreation, international travel and tourism related to meetings, conferences, amateur sports and group travel are vital to our state's tourism economy and are areas in which New York can really excel. We are excited for the opportunity to expand our promotional work in these areas in this multifaceted way."

More information, including program guidelines and the grant funding application, is available here.

In 2021, the U.S. Economic Development Administration made $750 million in funding available from the American Rescue Plan to states and communities through its Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program. New York state applied for, and was awarded funding, with ESD designated as the agency to oversee and administer the grant. Of the $510 million allocated specifically to states, New York was awarded nearly $45 million – the second highest amount of any state. Other funding from this award will enhance “I LOVE NY's” programmatic work and efforts in the identified EDA areas of focus, and will support similar tourism-related efforts of other specified New York state agencies.