Grants

Silver Spurs Rodeo

Silver Spurs Rodeo

Tourism Enhancements Grants 

Investing in ideas that bring visitors and value to Osceola County

In Osceola County, great ideas have a way of drawing a crowd. Experience Kissimmee’s Tourism Enhancement Grants Program supports events and initiatives that attract visitors, create memorable experiences, and strengthen the destination as a whole. It’s all part of a bigger picture: turning tourism into something that benefits the community while keeping Kissimmee vibrant, welcoming, and worth the trip. Explore the details below to learn how your idea can take shape and help bring more people along for the experience. 

Sponsored Events in Kissimmee

Supporting events that bring visitors, energy, and community impact to Osceola County. 

Experience Kissimmee sponsors events that help showcase the spirit of Osceola County while supporting tourism, community connection, and economic impact. From cultural celebrations and seasonal festivals to signature local traditions, sponsored events are selected based on their ability to attract visitors, enhance the destination experience, and create meaningful value for the community. In partnership with the Tourist Development Council, Experience Kissimmee administered more than $497,046 in Tourism Enhancement Grants to support local events that help keep the destination vibrant and welcoming year-round.

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Supporting Events that Bring Visitors, Visibility & Last Community Impact

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Grants FAQ

The Tourism Enhancement Grant is a funding program administered by Experience Kissimmee that provides financial assistance for tourism‑driven events and projects in Osceola County. Its purpose is to: 

  • Increase visitor numbers and hotel room nights
  • Generate tourism revenue
  • Enhance Osceola County’s appeal as a destination to visitors 

 

Eligibility:

  • Local government entities within Osceola County
  • Nonprofit organizations based in Osceola County
  • Applicants must propose events or projects that clearly attract visitors from outside the area and create measurable tourism impact. 

The grant primarily supports tourism-related marketing and promotion, not general operating costs. 

Eligible projects: 

  • Special events (festivals, rodeos, cultural events, etc.)
  • Tourism promotion initiatives
  • Projects designed to drive overnight visitation 

 

Eligible expenses: 

Grant funds are specifically intended for marketing efforts targeting visitors outside Osceola County, including: 

  • Digital advertising and paid social campaigns
  • Print, radio, and television advertising
  • Outdoor signage and banners
  • Flyers, brochures, and direct mail
  • Graphic design and promotional materials  

 

Important conditions: 

  • Funds must supplement — not replace — an organization’s marketing budget
  • Applicants must contribute their own funding toward the project  

Funding varies by cycle and available budget per number of applicants 

  • Maximum per event approved by TDC has been $30,000
  • Per guidelines and approved scoring card maximum amount is $25,000 

 

Awards are competitive and depend on: 

  • Project scale
  • Expected tourism impact
  • Strength of the marketing plan

Process: 

  1. Review the Grants Manual and eligibility guidelines
  2. Complete the online application
  3. Submit detailed information, including: event/project description, marketing plan, and budget and funding sources.
  4. Applications are reviewed and scored based on criteria like:
  • Economic impact
  • Room nights generated
  • Attendance projections
  • Marketing effectiveness  

 

Deadlines (typical cycle): Spring 

  • Application window: April 14 – May 14 each year
  • Submission deadline: May 14 at 5:00 PM  

Only events within the designated fiscal year (Oct. 1–Sept. 30) are eligible.  

 

Notification: 

  • Applications are reviewed by Experience Kissimmee and the Tourist Development Council (TDC), which makes funding recommendations from June through July of each year
  • Notification timing can vary, but awards are generally announced after the Experience Kissimmee Board of Directors completes its review and approves the upcoming fiscal year budget—typically in August. 

 

Distribution of funds: 

  • After executed signed agreement, grantee must submit invoice for payment.
  • Grantees submits invoice 90-days prior to their event start date for fund distribution
  • Post-event financial and performance report (45 days after event), including:
    • Proof of expenses
    • Marketing samples
  • Survey report- attendance and impact data- This ensures accountability and confirms tourism impact of event