Deadline: 1-Apr-25
The Twentynine Palms Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), established in October 2017 and branded as Visit 29 Palms, is a collaborative initiative between the City of Twentynine Palms and its lodging community.
The Twentynine Palms TBID Event Grants are funded by a 1.5% tax on lodging, and are designed to enhance the city’s appeal as a tourist destination. Focused on increasing overnight stays, the program encourages the development of innovative tourism products, elevates the city’s brand, fosters industry collaboration, and targets key travel segments, all while emphasizing the five key destination pillars: Outdoor Recreation, Arts, Culture and History, Health and Wellness, Culinary Experiences, and Astronomy.
Event Grants are specifically designed to support the establishment of new events that attract tourists to the area.
Funding Information
- Event Grant Funding Details:
- Event Grants: Event grants are available from $3,000 to $20,000, catering to larger events with significant potential to boost tourism and overnight stays during the non-peak season (May through September).
Eligibility Criteria
- Twentynine Palms TBID Event Grants:
- Applicants: Non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals are encouraged to apply. It is a requirement that applicants have prior experience in organizing events to ensure the successful and professional execution of their proposed activities. Twentynine Palms residency is not a requirement to apply.
- Event Location: All events must take place within the Twentynine Palms sphere of influence, which includes the City of Twentynine Palms, Desert Heights, Indian Cove Campground and Amphitheater, the JTNP northern boundary, and Wonder Valley. Additionally, applicants are required to upload/submit a preliminary Venue Agreement as part of their application.
- Target Audience: Events should primarily aim to attract tourists located 50 to 100 miles away, contributing to the city’s tourism from beyond the local area.
- Event Timing: While events can be scheduled at any time, there is a particular interest in those planned for the non-peak months of May through September. This approach supports their goal of fostering year-round tourism and aligns with the Twentynine Palms TBID’s strategy to increase occupancy in hotels and vacation rentals during these typically quieter months.
- ADA Accessibility: They encourage events to strive for venues that are accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Recognizing the challenges of their rural area, they value efforts to make events as inclusive and accessible as possible.
- Marketing Requirements: Event Grant recipients must commit to including the Visit 29 Palms logo in their marketing materials and tagging their social media accounts in posts.
- Economic Impact Assessment: Events are required to submit a post-event plan for assessing their economic impact, which should include an analysis of local spending and visitor demographics.
For more information, visit Twentynine Palms TBID.