Southern Indiana (July 16, 2024) – Applications for a 2024 round of funding from the Tourism Capital Development Fund (TCDF) managed by SoIN Tourism will be accepted starting August 1. Awards granted will range from $100,000 to $250,000. SoIN Tourism, the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention & Tourism Bureau, will award up to $1 million in total to support high-impact, transformative place-making projects spearheaded by Clark and Floyd County non-profits and government entities. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2024.

Funding proposals should align with the primary goals of the TCDF:

-To foster transformational capital development projects that positively change the trajectory of a community and the region as a visitor destination.
-To reinforce the capacities of a visitor attraction or tourism generator.
-To enhance the quality of life in our community.

As part of its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, SoIN Tourism has also identified six priority categories of visitor experiences in which it will invest energy, advocacy and resources:

-Small Meetings/Conferences
-Culinary/Agritourism
-Sports Events
-Riverfront/Outdoor Recreation/Adventure Travel
-Arts, Heritage & Cultural Entertainment/Festivals
-Business/Corporate Travel

“These six categories present the greatest growth opportunities for Clark and Floyd Counties,” said SoIN Tourism Executive Director Jim Epperson. “They either attract new travel market segments in which we are not currently competitive, or they complement SoIN’s well-established visitor experiences.”

Applications will be reviewed in the fall, and recipients selected by the end of 2024.

The TCDF program has been in place since 1984 when the Indiana General Assembly enacted an innkeeper’s tax to support marketing Clark and Floyd counties to visitors. The tax included 1% earmarked for capital projects that help to attract visitors. That portion increased to 1.5% in 2019.

Over the past 35 years, the program has assisted in the development of signature projects that improve the quality of place enjoyed by visitors and residents of Southern Indiana. Past projects include improvements to Falls of the Ohio State Park’s Interpretive Center, Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, Vintage Fire Museum, Jeffersonville’s RiverStage, NoCo Arts & Cultural District and more.

Interested applicants can view full details and requirements at GoSoIN.com/business/partner-support/.