PRT’s
EVER EVOLVING GRANT
PROGRAM
Shaping and sharing a
better South Carolina –
South Carolina Department of Parks,
Recreation & Tourism
TOURISM
PARTNERSHIP
FUND
(TPF)
TPF
PROGRAM GOALS
TO:
 Generate a return on the State’s investment;
 Carryout the tourism marketing and economic
development mission of SCPRT; and
 Support our tourism industry partners with an
emphasis on rural marketing.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
 Federal
Non-Profit (501)
 Federal
Identification Number (FEIN)
 Specifically
charged with promoting
economic development to a defined
geographic area of the State
INELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Organizations receiving a Line-Item
Appropriation;
 Organizations receiving appropriations
from other State agencies intended for
marketing and promotions;
 State agencies, foundations of state
agencies, state supported institutions and
foundations of state supported
institutions.
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TPF PROGRAM STRUCTURE
ESTABLISHED
MARKET
Attraction Market
Festival/Event Market
RURAL-DEVELOPING
MARKET
Attraction Market
Festival/Event Marketing
ORGANIZATIONS MAY
ONLY SUBMIT ONE TPF
GRANT APPLICATION
ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS
FOR ALL TPF GRANTS
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DMOs, Chambers, CVBs, Tourism
Commissions, Associations, Towns/Cities
Counties, Development Boards,
Museums/Zoos/Aquariums, Historical
Sites, Other Attractions, Festivals or
Events
FUNDABLE COMPONENTS
FOR ALL TPF GRANTS
Interactive Marketing; Web
Development/Enhancement; Broadcast
Media; Web-based Media; Advertising; PR:
Media marketplace, Press kits; Sales:
Tradeshows, Meetings & conventions,
Group Tour; Billboards; and Other (Provide
Detailed Explanation)
ESTABLISHED MARKET
(Attraction & F/E)
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Organization’s physical location should be in an
unincorporated part of a county or a municipality
that collects a minimum of $900,000 in State
Accommodations Tax annually.
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Counties & Municipalities in this category: Horry
County unincorporated area; Georgetown
County unincorporated area; City of Myrtle
Beach; Hilton Head Island; Charleston; North
Myrtle Beach; North Charleston; Columbia;
Kiawah Island; Isle of Palms; Greenville.
Unincorporated Areas
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DEFINITION:
An Unincorporated area is a region of land
that is not a part of any municipality.
A region of land in the County that is not
within the boundaries of any city and not
governed by a local municipality.
ESTABLISHED MARKET
MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD
$200,000
Match: 2-to-1
(State dollars cannot be used as match!)
Out-of-State Marketing Only
ESTABLISHED MARKET
ATTRACTION GRANT
Organization that markets one or more South Carolina
Attraction and collects an admission fee.
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Same criteria as Established Market:
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Organization’s physical location should be in an
unincorporated part of a county or a municipality that
collects a minimum of $900,000 in State
Accommodations Tax annually.

Counties & Municipalities in this category: Horry County
unincorporated area; Georgetown County unincorporated
area; City of Myrtle Beach; Hilton Head Island;
Charleston; North Myrtle Beach; North Charleston;
Columbia; Kiawah Island; Isle of Palms; Greenville.
ATTRACTION GRANT
MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD:
$30,000
Match: 2-to-1
(State dollars cannot be used as your match!)
OUT-OF-STATE and/or IN-STATE
MARKETING
(In-State advertising at least 50 miles outside
organization’s county/region)
FESTIVAL OR EVENT
MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD:
$5,000
Match: 2-to-1
(State dollars cannot be used as match!)
OUT-OF-STATE and/or INSTATE MARKETING
(In-State advertising at least 50 miles outside
organization’s county/region)
RURAL-DEVELOPING MARKET
Entities whose physical location is in an
unincorporated part of a county or in a
municipality that collects less than
$900,000 in State Accommodations Tax
annually.
 These non-profit entities primary
responsibility is to promote economic
development to a defined geographic area
through tourism marketing.

RURAL DEVELOPING MARKET
MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD:
$200,000
Match: 1-to-1
(State dollars cannot be used as match!)
OUT-OF-STATE and/or INSTATE MARKETING
(In-State advertising at least 50 miles outside
organization’s county/region)
RURAL-DEVELOPING MARKET
ATTRACTION GRANT
Organization that markets one or more South
Carolina Attraction and charge an admission fee.
Same criteria as Rural-Developing Market:
 Entities whose physical location is in an
unincorporated part of a county or in a
municipality that collects less than $900,000 in
State Accommodations Tax annually.
ATTRACTION GRANT
MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD:
$30,000
Match: 1-to-1
(State dollars cannot be used as your match!)
OUT-OF-STATE and/or IN-STATE
MARKETING
(In-State advertising at least 50 miles outside
organization’s county/region)
RURAL-DEVELOPING MARKET
FESTIVAL/EVENT GRANT
Organization that promote a Festival or Event
that generates economic development to a
defined geographic area thru tourism marketing.
Same criteria as Rural-Developing Market:
 Entities whose physical location is in an
unincorporated part of a county or in a
municipality that collects less than $900,000 in
State Accommodations Tax annually.
FESTIVAL OR EVENT
MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD:
$5,000
Match: 1-to-1
(State dollars cannot be used as match!)
OUT-OF-STATE and/or INSTATE MARKETING
(In-State advertising at least 50 miles outside
organization’s county/region)
TPF APPLICATION PROCEDURE
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Application should be typed on white paper (8 ½ X 11), using 12 point font and not to exceed 15 pages.
Original application and all 5 copies must include a cover sheet with the information listed below.
TPF Grant Category: (Rural-Developing Market Festival/Event )
Organization Name
Name of Project Director
Mailing Address
Telephone Number and FAX Number
E-mail Address and Internet Address
County
Project Name
If Festival or Event – Give Date
List each Fundable Component with Corresponding Budget Figure (EXAMPLE: Print Media - $2,500; Broadcast
Media - $2,500, etc.)
Requested TPF Grant Amount
Attach to cover sheet:
501-C Federal (IRS) Exemption Letter
Federal Identification Number (FEIN) Letter (If your Federal ID Number is not located on your 501-C Exemption
Letter)
(Project Director’s Signature)
Completed Application
APPLICATION
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1. Briefly describe the mission of your organization. (Describe your
Attraction/Festival/Event)
2. List specific quantifiable goals that you will accomplish through use of the
requested TPF grant (for example: grow visitation by x percent; grow tourism tax
revenue collections by x percent).
3. Describe your marketing plan by answering the following questions:
a) Identify your target audience for FY 2010-2011, including relevant demographic,
geographic, psychographic attributes and timing of efforts. Explain why you are
targeting this/these audience. Please provide sources for your justification.
b) What specific marketing strategies and tactics (such as print, TV, digital
advertising, public relations, website, etc.) will you use to influence your target
audience to achieve your stated goals? In answering this question, please list all
strategies and tactics, and underline efforts that you will fund with TPF assistance.
4. Performance Measures
Identify the performance measures you use to determine the success of your
marketing efforts. (For example: attendance/ticket sales; number of brochures
distributed; number of inquiries; accommodations bookings; web statistics; magazine
tracking numbers; survey results; and any other measures.)
What was your economic impact on the community/state last year? If you meet your
stated goal(s), what will your economic impact be this year? (For example:
accommodations tax, admissions tax, and sales tax you generated and/or any other
relevant measures. Show all calculations.)
POINT SYSTEM
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Total Weight Factor = 100
1. Marketing goals clearly identified and attainable? (20 Points)
2. Target Audience clearly identified with justifiable sources? (20 Points)
3. Marketing strategies/tactics clearly explained and tied to goals in
Question 2? (20 Points)
4. Performance measures clearly identified? (10 Points)
5. Calculation shown for economic impact explicitly tied to marketing
efforts for this funding year? (20 Points)
6. Application clear, concise and comprehensive? (5 Points)
7. Required documentation provided? (5 Points)
Funding will be awarded based on scoring. Funds will be
distributed in descending order from the highest scoring
application to the lowest scoring application -- until all TPF funds
are appropriated.
TPF APPLICATION
Original and 5 copies
(Total: 6)
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Close of Business: April 15, 2010
 Cannot FAX or E-mail
 Original and 5 Copies
 Address:
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SC Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Tourism Partnership Fund
1205 Pendleton Street – Suite 243
Columbia, SC 29201
CORE STIPULATIONS
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The primary focus of all TPF projects must be tourism
promotion to sustain tourism related revenue.
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SCPRT reserves the right to adjust funding parameters in
accordance with the number of proposals received and
available grant funds.
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SCPRT reserves the right to allocate the TPF budget at
its discretion between the Established Market Category
and the Rural-Developing Market Category.
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TPF grants may only be used to market festivals, events
and attractions that occur at venues that are accessible
by the general public on an on-going basis.
(Core Stipulations Cont’d)
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SCPRT reserves the right to determine the acceptability and value of all
written, graphic and visual material as to its content and appropriateness
for the general public and for the state’s effort to promote tourism.
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Approved applicants may use their TPF grant funds to participate in co-op
partnership programs offered by SCPRT.
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TPF funds may be used to advertise in any SCPRT-sponsored
communication channel.
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TPF funds may NOT be used for ad placement in any TPF organization’s
collateral material that will receive reimbursement for printing.
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Organizations that utilize advertising agencies must provide a copy of media
invoice and printer invoice. Organizations are reimbursed based on net
rates only.
(Core Stipulations Cont’d)
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Production and commission costs are not eligible for reimbursement. Organizations
will be reimbursed based on net rates only.
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Organizations receiving a TPF grant must have a reciprocal link on their web site to
SCPRT’s web site. Consumer must be able to reach SCPRT’s web site
(www.discoversouthcarolina.com) in one click.
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Collateral material funded thru TPF should provide American with Disabilities
Accessibility (ADA) information on all properties and attractions listed therein.
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Collateral materials must follow the state’s bidding process, with the contract for
printing awarded to the lowest bidder.
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If funded TPF projects solicit ads from SCPRT offices, they must offer a 50%
reduction off the lowest card rate.
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TPF funds may be used to advertise in any SCPRT-sponsored communication channel.
GRANT ADMINISTRATION
TPF Guidelines in Program Overview
(www.TPFgrant.com)
 Obtain PRT approval prior to placement or
production of any work
 Include South Carolina Logo
 TPF forms online
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REIMBURSEMENT INFOMATION
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Complete Reimbursement form (@
www.TPFgrant.com)
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Attach copies of invoices, cancelled checks
and support documentation
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Submit to PRT by May 30, 2011
TPF CONTACT INFO:
Dottie Fisher
(803) 734-1342
dfisher@scprt.com
REMINDER:
TPF APPLICATION DUE
APRIL 15, 2010
When you promote your
area/attraction/festival/event
and visitors come, make sure
their visit is a defining
moment that leaves them
with a clear memory of a
unique experience that
connects with them
emotionally.
And Guess What Will
Happen?
They’ll come again!
“SOUTH CAROLINA”
MADE FOR
VACATION