Tourism Water Crisis Sustainability Grant
Purpose
Visit Jackson and the City With Soul are working tirelessly to continue to welcome visitors in a post-COVID-19 pandemic environment. The impact of global health threat has impacted the travel and tourism industry severely, with full recovery projected years away. Now Mississippi’s capital city and its tourism stakeholders face additional external factors, compounding difficulties impacting goals and objectives for our industry.
Because of these threats, the Visit Jackson Board of Directors is humbled to announce the Tourism Water Crisis Sustainability Grant program for Jackson lodging, restaurant, and museums/attraction industry sector partners. All qualified partners must prepare food on site and provide documentation regarding their participation in collecting and remittance of the 1% tourism tax that funds Visit Jackson and its tourism promotion efforts.
The Board has identified $50,000 in funding to be used by the identified sector partners to reimburse partners for ice, water, and soft drink expenditures.
Program Description
This grant program is a reimbursement program for Jackson lodging, restaurant, and museums/attraction industry sector partners. All qualified partners must serve prepared meals and provide documentation verifying that they collect and remit the tourism special levy that funds the official Jackson, Mississippi Destination Management Organization, Visit Jackson, to the Mississippi Department of Revenue. All grant awards will be used to reimburse industry partners that have been compelled to expend funds to ensure sustainable, safe food service for our local citizens and our visitors.
Qualified reimbursements include documented ice, water, and soft drink expenditures.
Award Consideration Criteria
The Tourism Water Crisis Sustainability Grant Program has been established with three categories:
- Small Industry Sector Partners: 50 seats or less
- Medium Industry Sector Partners: Between 51-200 restaurant seats
- Large Industry Sector Partners: More than 200 restaurant seats
Partners that execute only carry-out food service could also qualify; hence, their applications will be examined case-by-case.
Small Industry Sectors Partners may qualify for reimbursement for water, soft drinks, or ice expenditures up to $500. Medium Industry Sector Partners may qualify for expenditures up to $1,000. Large Industry Sector Partners may qualify for expenditure up to $2,000.
Core Stipulations
A complete grant application will provide the requested information within the application portal. Uploaded documents shall include:
- The Sales Tax/Special Tax Page verifying remittance of the 1% tourism tax special levy.
- Page 1 of your most recent sales tax return.
- Copies of receipts for ice, soft drinks, and/or water between the dates of August 1 to the present date.
- All submitted and uploaded receipts must verify and clearly exhibit the date and place of purchase of the item(s) purchased, i.e., water, ice, and/or soft drinks.
- Form W-9 (Request for taxpayer identification number and certification)
Every application will be considered on its own merit and is within Visit Jackson’s authority to approve or deny program participation. More significant consideration and higher priority will be given to partners demonstrating the highest potential for causing significant economic impact, primarily through increasing restaurant revenue and hotel occupancy. Applicants must realize that even though an application received may qualify, funding will be limited to the scope of the identified Visit Jackson grant budget.
All decisions regarding awards are made at the sole discretion of Visit Jackson and its commitment to the highest fiduciary responsibilities.
Upon the notification of funding approval, partners will receive a check in the award amount within five business days.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Requirement
Partners have been directed to the Visit Jackson Tourism Water Crisis Sustainability Grant Program link here on VisitJackson.com to complete the application and upload the required documentation to qualify. The application window opens Wednesday, September 8, and closes Friday, September 30, 2022.
- All applications must be completed in full and returned by the Application Deadline
- Other essential backup materials that support your application, as requested
NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Visit Jackson has the authority to disqualify incomplete applications or request additional information before presentation or recommendation to full board of directors.
Dates
THIS PROGRAM ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
Entities may request a hard copy of the application by contacting Amy Dillard - 601-345-2547, at 308 East Pearl Street, Suite 301 Jackson, Mississippi 39201.