Deadline: 8-Nov-21
The Mono County, through its Economic Development, Tourism & Film Commission (EDTFC), is pleased to announce the availability of a Community Event Marketing Fund (CEMF) reimbursement program to support organized, non-profit groups that may require additional revenue to advertise and promote tourism-based community events to markets outside the Eastern Sierra.
The purpose of this program is to further the Mono County Economic Development, Tourism & Film Commission’s (EDTFC) goal to increase year-round visitation and overnight stays in Mono County which provide economic benefit to the region. Primary consideration will be given to newly established events, and those that take place in the less busy “shoulder” seasons.
Funding Information
- Up to $5,000 in funding on a reimbursement basis is available per event; additional funds may be awarded depending on the total amount allocated to each community.
- Total funding available for CEMF is $20,000; these monies are identified in the EDTFC 2021-2022 operating budget adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
- Mono County is under no obligation to expend any or all of the funds; EDTFC reserves the right to modify the allocation process as needed.
Funding Allocation Model
- The total grant fund of $20,000 will be divided equally by the number of communities from which qualifying applications are received. For example, if applications are received for events in 4 communities, each of those 4 communities will be allocated a total of $5,000, etc.
- From each community’s total, the grants will be awarded to qualifying applicants within that community based on the point system, and allocated according to the following grid:
- Example: Awards Model Example with applications from four communities:
- Allocation Per Community** ($20,000 divided by communities with applications) = 5,000.00
- 1st Place – Application with highest score = $2,700.00
- 2nd Place – Application with second highest score = $1,500.00
- 3rd Place – Application with third highest score = $800.00
- Total = $5,000.00
* The funding per community will be granted to the top-scoring applicants in that community. If there is only one qualified application from a specific community, that applicant will receive 100% of that community’s allocated funds.
Eligible Event Marketing Plans
- Examples of marketing initiatives that promote tourism-based, community events might include: Temporary promotional signage, flyers, posters, brochures, direct mail, online and traditional advertising, etc.
- Please Note:
- Promotional communication/advertising and marketing must be targeted and distributed to destination markets outside Mono County and the Eastern Sierra, e.g., Southern California, Bay Area, Reno, etc.
- Promotional materials funded by the CEMF must be professionally designed and produced.
- Again, new events will be given higher marks, as will events that are scheduled during non-holidays after Labor Day through June 30th (and excluding high season for Mammoth Lakes, Dec. 20-March 30). However, applications for events occurring outside the preferred date will be accepted, because the distribution of funding may include events outside the preferred dates, depending on the applicant pool.
- Every community in Mono County is encouraged to submit applications for funding and EDTFC will strive to ensure that funding is dispersed as equitably as possible between communities and applicants.
- Both new and existing events are eligible for funding; however, EDTFC encourages organizations to develop self-sustaining events — and the point system takes this into consideration.
For more information, visit https://monocounty.ca.gov/tourismcommission/page/community-event-marketing-fund