Orangeburg County Accommodations Tax Grant

Grant Details

In order to apply for an accommodations tax grant, you must submit a request that meet the following guidelines:

These tourism-related funds must be used to promote tourism and enlarge the economic benefits of the area through advertising, promotion, and providing those facilities and services that enhance the ability of the county or municipality to attract and provide for tourists. The A-tax Committees look to distinguish between events or activities designated for and attended primarily by those in the local community (not qualifying) from events that are designated for and attended primarily by non-residents who come from outside the local community, which generally means from outside a 50-mile radius (qualifying).

• Advertising & Promotion of Tourism – Under Code Section 6-4-10 (4)(b)(1), monies in the Tourism-related Fund can be used for advertising and the promotion of tourism to increase tourism in the municipality. Qualifying expenditures would include monies spent on magazine, newspaper, web, radio or television advertising in an attempt to promote the municipality to tourists. Qualifying expenditures also include monies spent to promote the municipality to entities that specialize in tourism, such as bus tour companies and travel agencies.
  

• Arts & Cultural Events – Under Code Section 6-4-10 (4)(b)(2), monies in the Tourism related Fund can be used for the promotion of the arts and cultural events. Expenditures that can qualify include monies used for advertising or the promotion of a particular festival or arts/cultural event held in or near the municipality in an effort to attract tourists who will stay in hotels/motels, etc. within the city. • Facilities for Civic and Cultural Events – Under Code Section 6-4-10 (4)(b)(3), monies in the Tourism-related Fund can be used for the construction, maintenance and operation of facilities for cultural and civic activities, including construction and maintenance of access and other nearby roads and utilities for the facilities. Eligible expenditures can include the costs incurred in building a civic center, a museum or a coliseum. Funds may also be used for the continued operation of such a facility including repairs, and management fees or salaries of those who work at the facility. Please note that the facility must enhance the ability of the municipality to attract and provide for tourists and cannot provide a purely local function or benefit.
  

• Tourist Transportation – Under Code Section 6-4-10 (4)(b)(6), monies in the Tourism related Fund may be used for tourist shuttle transportation. Qualifying expenditures include any monies spent to provide public transportation to tourist, such as shuttle buses or trolleys. For example, shuttles to transport persons from the airport to hotels, or from the hotels to tourist attractions, or from conventions or tourist attractions to other tourist facilities would qualify.

View documents and apply here!