Visit Beloit Grants

J.E.T. Grants (Joint Effort Tourism) | Visit Beloit

The mission of Visit Beloit is to attract visitors to the Greater Beloit area to experience our attractive, vibrant community and to ensure our guests enjoy our friendly and warm hospitality.

Objective 1.1 – Redesign the JET and Destination Grants programs with the goal of grant recipient organizations becoming self-supporting.

Tier I – Community Grants

Purpose: Community Grants are to assist local organizations in producing quality events in order to enhance the quality of life in Beloit and the Stateline area. Community Grants will provide matching funding to assist organizations that provide opportunities of gathering for citizens which result in a positive economic impact.. The matching grants can be up to $500 and can be used for technology development, event development, direct mail etc.

Tier II – Attraction Grants

Purpose: Attraction Grants are for organizations that have the potential to attract an audience from outside the immediate area and provide opportunities which result in a positive economic impact. These organizations should be able to demonstrate their ability to attract 1,000 or more visitors annually. They should also have the potential to package overnight stays in area hotels. Attraction Grants are matching grants up to $2,500 and can be used for direct mail, special event creation, adding a new segment to an existing event, web site development, etc.

Co-op Advertising Grants

Purpose: Co-op advertising grants pool the resources of all the area tourism entities including attractions, recreational facilities, organizations, restaurants and hotels. By combining advertising opportunities we will be able to send a much more powerful Beloit message and reach a larger audience. Matching grants will be awarded to organizations that meet Visit Beloit’s goal to build Beloit as a tourism destination.

Applicants may receive less than the maximum amount. Applying for a Grant does not guarantee receipt of funding.

Organizations currently in receipt of their 3rd year of funding may be ineligible to apply for the grant. For eligibility, there must be new elements created within the event that meet grant criteria.

Grant awards are subject to funds being available.

Eligibility and Criteria for Funding

  • Only one project/event per organization will be funded each calendar year for attraction and community grants. Co-op advertising grants will consider more than one if appropriate.
  • Event and/or attraction must be located in Greater Beloit or have a substantial influence on the tourism industry in Beloit.
  • The event or project must be designed to increase leisure, event, motorcoach or meeting and convention travel to the City of Beloit.
  • Applicants are required to submit a written proposal along with a Visit Beloit grant application form.
  • All proposed projects/events must show a budget depicting that requested funds meet a minimum of 3:1 funding ratio (revenue from other sources; requested monies).
  • Encourage collaboration between organizations and other types of community groups.
  • All organizations are required to submit a written final report. Failure to submit a final report will disqualify the organization from receiving the matching grant.
  • Event and/or attraction must be able to measure effectiveness of project.
  • All applications will be reviewed by the grant advisory committee.

Ineligible Organizations and Projects

  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age or sexual orientation.
  • Political organizations, candidates for political office and organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation.
  • Building – brick and mortar – capital campaigns.
  • Individuals.
  • Staffing and operational costs.
  • An existing deficit from a previous year or project/event.
  • Grants that fail to demonstrate other revenues or matching dollars to support the project/event.
  • Applicants which submit late and/or incomplete applications.

General Information

The applicant must complete the following application materials to be considered eligible for a Grant. Applicant materials must be submitted in the following order:

  • Proposed Marketing Budget for project/event.
  • One (1) completed Community, Attraction or Co-op Grant Applicant Checklist.
  • One original application form.
  • Statement of assurances, narratives and demographic information.
  • One current copy of proof of not-for-profit status.
  • Copy of organization’s operating budget for the current year.
  • List of the organization’s current officers and directors
  • Submit application by deadline. Incomplete/late applications will not be accepted.

Criteria for the Grant Advisory Committee

The Grant Advisory Committee reviews and evaluates applications. The bullets under each criterion are examples of issues the Committee considers. These bullets do not represent the only means of evaluating the criteria but are provided as a guide to the Committee.

  • Need and Justification
    • Originality of project/event
    • Need for project/event is adequately demonstrated to warrant funding.
  • Organizational Capacity
    • Documented project plan for the project/event (including volunteer human resources and Visit Beloit staff time and resources).
    • Evidence of sound management and planning.
    • Demonstrates financial responsibility and evidence of public and private financial support other than the grant request,
    • A demonstrated personnel support to implement the project/event whether paid staff and/or volunteers.
    • Appropriateness and adequacy of facilities and equipment.
  • Community Involvement
    • Project meets objectives set forth in the Visit Beloit Strategic Plan.
    • Enhances quality of life.
    • Impact of project/event on the community (community events are strongly encouraged to show an economic impact).
  • Evidence of Community Support
    • Impact of volunteer services on organization.
    • Impact of in-kind contributions on organization.
    • Evidence of Board support.
    • Other evidence of community contributions.
  • Assessment
    • Did the event meet the funding guidelines
    • The level of community support demonstrated for the project/event.
    • Capacity of the community to contribute to the event.
    • Financial budget.
    • Evaluation of outcomes of the event.

Grantees are required to include and display the Visit Beloit logo on all related project/event materials and promotion.