Sports Commission Grants

Questions?

Robb Zerr
Senior Managing Director
State Marketing & Tourism
Phone: (206) 256-6111

Application Deadline

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 4, 2024. Any applications received after that date will be considered non-responsive.

Use of Grant Funds

Eligible Uses

Research and Development

• Feasibility Studies: Conducting research to assess the viability and potential of hosting specific events and their economic impact.

Infrastructure and Facility Improvements

• Renovation and Upgrading of Sports Venues: Enhancing existing sports facilities to meet the standards required to host major events.
• Temporary Structures and Facilities: Setting up temporary structures like bleachers, tents, and stages for events.
• Accessibility Improvements: Ensuring venues are accessible to all, including those with disabilities.

Event Operations and Logistics

• Permits, Licensing & Fees: Covering the costs of necessary permits and licenses.
• Event Management Services: Hiring professional event management companies.
• Logistical Support: Transportation, accommodations, and food services for athletes, officials, and media.
• Security Services: Ensuring the safety of participants and spectators.

Marketing and Promotion

• Advertising Campaigns: Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts to promote the event.
• Public Relations: Engaging PR firms to manage communications and media relations.
• Digital Marketing: Online promotions, social media campaigns and website development.

Community Engagement and Support

• Volunteer Programs: Recruiting, training and managing volunteers for the event.
• Local Business Engagement: Partnering with local businesses for sponsorships and promotions.
• Community Outreach: Initiatives to involve the local community and create a positive impact.

Athlete and Participant Support

• Travel Subsidies: Assisting with travel expenses for participants.
• Accommodation Arrangements: Providing or subsidizing accommodations.
• Training Facilities: Providing access to training facilities prior to the event.

Technology and Innovation

• Event Technology: Investing in technology for event management, such as ticketing systems, scoring systems and live streaming.
• Data Analytics: Using data analytics to enhance event planning and marketing strategies.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

• Sustainable Practices: Implementing eco-friendly practices to minimize the environmental impact of events.

Legacy Project Attraction

• Post-Event Legacy Planning: Initiatives that ensure the long-term benefits of the event for the community, including securing future events that benefit communities economically.

Administrative and Overhead Costs

• General Administrative Expenses: Salaries for regular staff, office rent, utilities, and other general overhead costs related to the activities listed above.

Ineligible Uses:

Non-Tourism Related Projects

• Local-only Events: Events that do not attract visitors from outside the immediate area.
• Non-Sports Events: Funding activities or events that are not related to sports.

Debt and Financial Obligations

• Debt Repayment: Using funds to pay off existing debts or financial obligations.
• Interest Payments: Paying interest on loans or other financial instruments.

Political or Religious Activities

• Political Campaigns: Supporting political candidates, parties or causes.
• Religious Events: Funding events with primarily religious purposes.

Private or For-Profit Entities

• Private Gain: Activities that primarily benefit private individuals or for-profit businesses.
• Non-Open Access: Events or projects that are not open to the general public.

Non-Compliant Marketing

• Local Marketing Only: Marketing efforts that do not target out-of-area visitors.
• Inappropriate Content: Marketing materials that contain inappropriate, discriminatory, or offensive content.

Capital Expenditures Unrelated to Event

• Non-Sports Facilities: Constructing or renovating facilities that are not related to sports tourism.
• Personal Property: Purchasing items for personal use or items that are not directly related to the event.

Routine Maintenance

• Ongoing Maintenance: Routine maintenance or repair of existing facilities not specifically related to the preparation for a new event.

Contingency and Reserve Funds

• General Contingency Funds: Setting aside funds for unspecified future uses.
• Reserve Funds: Establishing general reserve funds not tied to specific event-related activities.

Excessive Travel and Hospitality

• Luxury Accommodations: Excessive spending on high-end accommodations or travel for staff or participants.
• Non-Essential Travel: Travel that is not essential to the planning or execution of the event.
• Food and Entertainment: Expenses related to familiarization trips/activities, including purchase of alcohol.

Non-Sporting Equipment

• General Office Supplies: Purchasing general office supplies or equipment not directly related to qualifying event attraction activities.
• Non-Essential Equipment: Equipment not essential for the execution of a qualifying sports event.

Other Ineligible Activities

• Research and Development Unrelated to Event: Funding research or feasibility studies not directly tied to a specific event.
• Non-Compliance with Regulations: Activities that do not comply with local, state or federal laws and regulations.

Scoring

Grants will be reviewed and scored by Commerce. Scoring weight will be given to eligible sports commissions that demonstrate economic impact (out-of-area visitors, estimated spending, job creation), community and regional benefits (volunteer opportunities, business engagement, community involvement), long-term and legacy potential, and experience and expertise as sports event organizers, especially the ability to attract, create and manage events that have a qualitative and quantitative impact on the community and its economy.

Grant Amounts

In determining an equitable distribution of awards, Commerce may allocate funds in proportion to the population of the county or counties in which the eligible sports commission conducts its activities. The committee may allocate funds as percentages based on county populations or similar distributions to address equity, diversity and inclusion goals.

Getting to work…

1. 1. When the application window closes, Commerce will score all the applications.
   2. Apparent award winners will be notified of the award and amount.
   3. At that point, a contract is negotiated with the grantee.
   4. This contract will include a set of deliverables, which will be built around the eligible uses.
   5. The contract will also attach dates to these deliverables.The negotiated contract is reviewed at the executive level of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness (OEDC) and is signed by the Assistant Director of OEDC.
   6. It is then sent to Contracting to be entered into the Contracts Management System. At this point the scope of work can begin. 

Payments

The release of grant funds occurs when Commerce receives a progress report and invoice for the eligible use activities performed during the billing cycle. Once reviewed and approved by Commerce, payments will be made to the awarded organization via electronic transfer.

1. 1. Commerce cannot make advanced payments on a grant; payments reflect work completed and reported.
   2. At a specific point in the contract, Commerce will set up a monitoring meeting with the grantee to make sure the contract is on course and mitigate any issues that may arise.

Reporting

As noted, grantees will need to submit a progress report that includes work performed as part of the contract along with the invoice.

At the end of the fiscal year, grantees will need to provide a final report that includes a narrative of how funds were spent, what was spent on what, and benefits to the community and economy, including but not limited to jobs created, revenue generated, overnight stay counts, etc., by June 30, 2025.

Application Deadline

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 4, 2024. Any applications received after that date will be considered non-responsive.