Grants

Festival Advertising Grant

The goal of this grant program is to support the advertising efforts of festivals and events in small cities or communities with limited advertising budgets.

Incorporated Arkansas cities with populations under 10,500 (based on the most recent census), or unincorporated communities (applying through the county), are eligible to apply. Grant recipients will become state vendors. A city/community may receive only one grant per fiscal year.

To be eligible, the festival must be open to the public, free of charge (no admission fees, donations, or other costs), and must be a recurring annual event held for at least one year prior to applying.

A total of $150,000 will be equally distributed among the six Destination Marketing Areas (DMAs) defined by Arkansas Tourism. If any DMA lacks sufficient qualifying applications, remaining funds may be redistributed to other DMAs.

Grants will be awarded in $50 increments, with a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $10,000. Recipients will be reimbursed for up to two-thirds of advertising expenses, not exceeding the grant amount. Payments will be made after the recipient submits all required documentation to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

Alternatively, grants may be awarded in the amount of up to $5,000. No match is required for amounts up to $5,000. Proof of performance is required within 90 days after the event.

Click here to create a profile and select the 2025 Tourism Festival Grant

For additional information on the festival advertising grants, call Arkansas Tourism at (501) 682-5240.

Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study Grant

This tourism feasibility study grant program is designed to assist incorporated cities and counties in Arkansas with feasibility studies pertaining to tourism attraction projects. A tourism feasibility study is research conducted for the purpose of determining the possibility and potentiality of a specific tourism attraction within the city or county boundaries.

Only incorporated cities and counties in Arkansas are eligible for the one-to-one matching feasibility study grants. Applicants may apply for up to $15,000 in reimbursable matching funds. If funded, the feasibility study grants will be awarded in three cycles with the deadlines for applications on the last Friday in July, the last Friday in September, and the last Friday in November.

For additional information on the tourism feasibility study grants, call Arkansas Tourism at 501-682-5240.

Click here to create a profile and preview the application